The Udawalawe Dam is a large irrigation dam in
Udawalawe, in the
Southern Province of
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
. The dam consists of an
embankment section and a
gravity
In physics, gravity (), also known as gravitation or a gravitational interaction, is a fundamental interaction, a mutual attraction between all massive particles. On Earth, gravity takes a slightly different meaning: the observed force b ...
section, combining the total dam length to approximately . The dam is also used for
hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...
power generation, powering two units, commissioned in .
The water level of the reservoir is controlled by the five
tainter gate
The Tainter gate is a type of radial arm floodgate used in dams and canal locks to control water flow. It is named for its inventor, the Wisconsin structural engineer Jeremiah Burnham Tainter.
Tainter, an employee of the lumber firm Knapp, ...
spillways located at the eastern end of the dam, with two additional spillways located towards the centre of the dam. The reservoir measures approximately in length, with a maximum perpendicular width of .
See also
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Electricity in Sri Lanka
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List of dams and reservoirs in Sri Lanka
The following page lists most dams in Sri Lanka. Most of these dams are governed by the Mahaweli Authority, while the Ceylon Electricity Board operates dams used for Hydroelectricity#Generating methods, hydroelectric power generation. Hydroelectr ...
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List of power stations in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's electricity demand is currently met by nine thermal power stations, fifteen large hydroelectric power stations, and fifteen wind farms, with a smaller share from small hydro facilities and other renewables such as solar. Most hydroel ...
References
{{Asia-dam-stub
Hydroelectric power stations in Sri Lanka
Dams in Sri Lanka
Buildings and structures in Monaragala District
Embankment dams