The Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha - Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation

¶ 01 (a) (i) Given in Table 01 below.

¶ 02 Table 01

¶ 03 - Kothmale — Installed Capacity (MW): 201 — Controlled by the Ceylon Electricity Board. Information is not available. - Ukuwela — Installed Capacity (MW): 40 - Victoria — Installed Capacity (MW): 210 - Randenigala — Installed Capacity (MW): 122 - Rantambe — Installed Capacity (MW): 50 - Bowathenna — Installed Capacity (MW): 40 - Moragahakanda — Installed Capacity (MW): 25 — Depicted in Table 02 below - Total — 692 MW

¶ 04 Table 02: Power Generation at Moragahakanda Hydropower Station (From 2020 up to the present)

¶ 05 - 2020 — 70,365.82 MWh - 2021 — 85,134.58 MWh - 2022 — 77,006.80 MWh - 2023 — 62,154.35 MWh - 2024 — 82,437.12 MWh - 2025 — 97,189.01 MWh - Up to March 2026 — 23,028.32 MWh

¶ 06 (ii) Reservoir — Year of Commencement of Operations — President who approved the constructions: - Kothmale — 1985 — Hon. J.R. Jayewardene - Polgolla — — Hon. William Gopallawa - Bowathenna — — Hon. William Gopallawa - Victoria — — Hon. J.R. Jayewardene - Randenigala — — Hon. J.R. Jayewardene - Rantambe — 1990 — Hon. Ranasinghe Premadasa - Maduruoya — 1983 — Hon. J.R. Jayewardene - Moragahakanda — 2018 — Hon. Maithripala Sirisena - Udawalawa — 1986 — Hon. J.R. Jayewardene

¶ 07 (iii) Reservoir — Gross Water Capacity (MCM) — Sediment Volumes (MCM): - Kothmale — 170.90 — 3.1 - Polgolla — 3.18 — 1.36 - Bowathenna — 23.5 — The relevant surveys are scheduled to be conducted in the future. - Victoria — 722.00 — The relevant surveys are scheduled to be conducted in the future. - Randenigala — 801.50 — 58.5 - Rantambe — 6.14 — 5.1 - Maduruoya — 596.60 — The relevant surveys are scheduled to be conducted in the future. - Moragahakanda — 557.90 — The relevant surveys are scheduled to be conducted in the future. - Udawalawa — 278.20 — The relevant surveys are scheduled to be conducted in the future.

¶ 08 (iv) The annual maintenance costs (expenditure incurred) on all reservoirs under the purview of the Operation and Maintenance Division of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority are as follows (Rs. Mn): - 2021 — Capital Expenditures: 360.99; Recurrent Expenditure: 259.67; Total Cost: 620.67 - 2022 — Capital Expenditures: 70.98; Recurrent Expenditure: 99.39; Total Cost: 170.37 - 2023 — Capital Expenditures: 219.00; Recurrent Expenditure: 297.092; Total Cost: 516.092 - 2024 — Capital Expenditures: 341.69; Recurrent Expenditure: 380.38; Total Cost: 722.07 - 2025 — Capital Expenditures: 346.19; Recurrent Expenditure: 474.26; Total Cost: 820.44

¶ 09 The timely and essential maintenance and operational activities for the major reservoirs belonging to the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka are carried out during the respective periods and an annual report is provided to that effect. These annual reports incorporate detailed information regarding any potential disasters, identified major repairs and the structural stability of the reservoir structures. The said reports are archived in the record room for follow-up purposes, when required. In the absence of precise quantitative data regarding anticipated rainfall, as well as definite timelines for such precipitation, the release of water from reservoirs cannot be executed. Currently, operational decisions rely solely on meteorological data forecasted by the Department of Meteorology. Consequently, it is not feasible to mitigate or control floods resulting from sudden, high-intensity rainfall events.

¶ 10 All major irrigation projects established in Sri Lanka were executed in accordance with meticulous and well-structured plans formulated prior to their construction. Particularly, in the construction of large-scale reservoirs, the relevant designs are engineered based on resilience factors capable of withstanding maximum probable precipitation and peak flood volumes. Furthermore, these constructions have been executed by calculating not only those factors, but all such as the possibility of accidents, stability, the capacity of the reservoir, the amount of water received from catchment areas and the strength of the structures. Therefore, in the face of floods etc. occurring based on climate change, the irrigation system remains stable and through that, proper flood management can also be carried out. Further, for large-scale constructions carried out at present as well, studies regarding climate change occurring at present are conducted, the amount of water received accordingly is also calculated and designs are carried out according to calculations performed based on those data.

¶ 11 (v) The Mahaweli water requirements for the ensuing week are assessed by the Weekly Water Management Committee convened every Friday by the Water Management Secretariat and the distribution of Mahaweli water is executed based on these assessments. This Committee is attended by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Department of Irrigation, where decisions are made regarding water requirements arising from changing rainfall patterns.

¶ 12 Further, at the beginning of each month, the Water Management Secretariat convenes the Monthly Water Management Committee to ensure that monthly water requirements are met and, in accordance with Cabinet recommendations, this Committee meets during the first week of every month, bringing together all relevant stakeholder agencies to make strategic decisions. A multitude of State institutions, including the Department of Meteorology, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Water Management Secretariat, the Department of Irrigation, disaster management divisions and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board participate in this process to make collective decisions aimed at ensuring balanced water resource management.

¶ 13 Moreover, prior to the commencement of each season, definitive decisions are taken regarding national water requirements for that season at the Water Management Meeting held at the Gannoruwa Agricultural Research Institute. During these deliberations, the agricultural sector, drinking water needs, electricity supply and meteorological data are thoroughly analysed to make strategic decisions for the balanced management of water resources in order to fulfil the aforementioned national requirements.

¶ 14 In addition, the Project Management Committees established for each irrigation scheme implement the necessary programmes to maintain effective water management within the respective project areas. State institutions such as the Department of Irrigation, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Development collaborate in this process to maintain an optimal water balance within the respective irrigation schemes.

¶ 15 (b) Does not arise, as per the above Answer.