Polgolla Barrage

The Polgolla Barrage (also erroneously known as the Polgolla Dam) is a barrage built across the Mahaweli River at Polgolla, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The barrage is used to increase the volume of water, for transfer to the hydroelectric power station located 8 km north, via penstock.

Polgolla Reservoir Waterdrome operates a short distance upstream on the lake created by the barrage.

Power station
Water from the Polgolla Reservoir is transferred to the Ukuwela Power Station at 7.39889°N, 80.65222°W, near Ukuwela, via an 8 km long underground penstock. Water from the reservoir is transferred to the power station at a rate of 2000 ft3/s.

The power station at Ukuwela consists of two 20 MW hydroelectric generators, totalling the plant capacity to 40 MW. Both units were commissioned in July 1976. Water from the power station is discharged into the Amban River, a major tributary to the Mahaweli River, which then connects back to the Mahaweli River at a distance of approximately 140 km downstream of the Polgolla Barrage.