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Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi is poised to inaugurate the Uma Oya irrigation and hydropower project, a testament to Iranian engineering prowess. Initially undertaken by Iran's FARAB engineering group in 2010 under a $514 million contract from Sri Lanka, the project faced financial hurdles due to international sanctions, disrupting funding from Iran's Export Development Bank. Despite these challenges, Sri Lanka persevered in financing the project, with $35.2 million still outstanding from the original credit. The project's scope includes a 120MW hydroelectric capacity, generating 290 GWh annually, and facilitating irrigation for 6,000 hectares of agricultural land in the Moneragala district, alongside providing essential drinking and industrial water. Despite delays caused by financing issues, water leakage, and the Covid-19 pandemic, the project is set to be completed by March 31, 2024, contributing significantly to agricultural development and energy sustainability in Sri Lanka.
The Uma Oya project, spearheaded by Iranian engineers, underscores the collaboration between Iran and Sri Lanka in infrastructure development. Despite facing financing challenges due to international sanctions, Sri Lanka remained committed to the project, having repaid $19.3 million of the original credit. With a hydroelectric capacity of 120MW, the project will generate 290 GWh annually, while also serving as a crucial irrigation source for 6,000 hectares of agricultural land in the Moneragala district. Additionally, the project will provide essential drinking and industrial water, benefiting local communities. Although delays caused by financing issues, water leakage, and the Covid-19 pandemic pushed the completion date to March 31, 2024, and the defect liability date to March 31, 2025, the Uma Oya project stands as a symbol of bilateral cooperation and engineering excellence, poised to bolster agricultural development and energy sustainability in Sri Lanka.
