The Laxapana Dam is a gravity dam built across the Maskeliya Oya, 2.8 km (1.7 mi) downstream of the Laxapana Falls, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.[1]

Laxapana Dam
Location of Laxapana Dam in Sri Lanka
Country	Sri Lanka
Location	Laxapana Central Province
Coordinates	06°55′08″N 80°29′22″E
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Opening date	April 1969 (1969-04)
Owner(s)	Ceylon Electricity Board
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity dam
Impounds	Maskeliya Oya
Reservoir
Creates	Laxapana Reservoir
Maximum length	300 m (980 ft)
Maximum width	130 m (430 ft)
Polpitiya Power Station
Coordinates	06°58′40″N 80°27′24″E
Turbines	2 × 37.50 MW
Installed capacity	75 MW

Power station and reservoir

The dam creates the Laxapana Reservoir, which is sustained from water flowing in from the Kelani River, and discharged water from the Old Laxapana Hydroelectric Power Stations and New Laxapana Hydroelectric Power Stations. The Old Laxapana and New Laxapana hydroelectric power stations belongs to the Norton Dam and Canyon Dam respectively, delivered via penstocks.

The combined hydro resource of the Laxapana Reservoir is fed into another penstock to a further 7.8 km (4.8 mi) downstream for utilization of power generation at the Polpitiya Power Station, located at 06°58′40″N 80°27′24″E. The power station, which is also called as the Samanala Hydroelectric Power Station, consists of two generation units rated at 37.50 MW each, both of which were commissioned in April 1969.[1][2][3]

See also

• List of dams and reservoirs in Sri Lanka
• List of power stations in Sri Lanka

References