Kalu Ganga Dam, Gravity dam in Pallegama, Matale District, Sri Lanka
The Kalu Ganga Dam is a gravity dam in Matale District that stretches across the river valley and creates a large water storage area. The structure spans roughly 550 meters long and rises around 65 meters high, forming a substantial reservoir.
Construction started in 2007 and finished in 2018 when water was first released from the structure. The project arose from broader plans to improve water management across the region.
The dam required multiple villages including Pallegama and Rambukoluwa to relocate as the landscape transformed. Residents received new land elsewhere for farming and building their homes.
Visitors can view and photograph the dam from several vantage points around the structure. It is best to visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the intense midday heat.
The construction was a complex engineering project backed by support from multiple countries, showing international cooperation on large infrastructure works in the region. Such partnerships were necessary to handle the enormous technical and financial demands involved.
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