Irrigation Training Institute - ITI

04/01/2026

The Minipe Anicut : Where Ancient Meets Modern
Just 2.5 km downstream from Rantambe lies the Minipe Anicut (a diversion weir). This is one of the most historically significant sites in Sri Lankan irrigation.
Ancient Engineering : The original anicut (the Manimekhala Amuna) dates back to King Aggabodhi I (6th Century). Ancient engineers used a natural island in the river to help divert water into a 75 km long canal.
The Modern Minipe Yoda Ela : Today, the anicut diverts water into the "Yoda Ela" (Giant Canal), which carries water all the way to the dry zones.
Recent Upgrades : Because Rantambe releases water in "pulses" for peak electricity demand (usually twice a day), the water level at the anicut used to fluctuate wildly. To fix this, a major project recently raised the Minipe Anicut, creating more storage to ensure a steady, 24/7 water supply for farmers.

04/01/2026

Rantambe Reservoir: The Silent Regulator of the Mahaweli
The Rantambe Reservoir, located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, serves as a vital but often overlooked cog in the massive Mahaweli Development Project. While smaller in scale compared to its upstream neighbors like Victoria and Randenigala, Rantambe plays a critical "balancing" role in the island's energy production and irrigation management.

1. Geographical and Technical Overview
The Rantambe Dam is a concrete gravity dam situated approximately 3 km downstream from the massive Randenigala Dam. It was constructed at the confluence where the Uma Oya tributary meets the Mahaweli Ganga, the longest river in Sri Lanka.

Completion: The project began in January 1987 and was commissioned in May 1990, funded largely by German aid.

Dimensions: The dam stands 42 meters (138 ft) high and stretches 420 meters (1,378 ft) in length.

Capacity: It creates a reservoir with a total capacity of approximately 21 million cubic meters (MCM).

2. Primary Functions
Unlike the vast storage reservoirs upstream, Rantambe is designed for specific tactical purposes:

Hydroelectric Power: The Rantambe Power Station houses two 26 MW turbines, providing a total installed capacity of 52 MW. It generates approximately 180 GWh of energy annually for the national grid.

Regulating Outflows: Its most important hydraulic role is acting as a "buffer." It regulates the heavy, fluctuating water releases from the Randenigala Power Station, ensuring a steady and manageable flow of water to the Minipe Anicut downstream, which feeds vast irrigation networks in the dry zone.

3. The Sedimentation Challenge
Rantambe is frequently in the spotlight of environmental research due to siltation. Because it is located at the mouth of the Uma Oya—a river known for carrying high sediment loads due to intensive agriculture and land use in its upper catchment—the reservoir fills with mud and silt much faster than others.

03/01/2026

Heartfelt Congratulations! 🎓👏

We are immensely proud to congratulate Dr. (Eng.) A. D. S. Iresh on his outstanding academic achievement of earning the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Hydrology & Climate Change at the Convocation of the Open University of Sri Lanka.

Dr. (Eng.) A. D. S. Iresh is a proud product of the Irrigation Training Institute (ITI), Galgamuwa, from the 2001–2004 batch. He began his professional journey as an Engineering Assistant of the Irrigation Department, and through dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence, he has risen to this remarkable milestone.

His journey stands as a true inspiration to all ITI trainees and young professionals, demonstrating how a strong foundation, hard work, and lifelong learning can lead to national and academic excellence.

We wish him continued success and greater achievements in his future endeavors, especially in contributing to the fields of hydrology, climate change, and sustainable water resources management.

Dr. (Eng.) Shashika Iresh 🎓

31/12/2025

01/10/2023

Save our nature.. ❤️

Visit Sri Lanka 😍🦚🌊 🇱🇰

11/12/2020

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟎/02/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏.

Irrigation Department website ➡️ Vacancies

https://www.irrigation.gov.lk/images/vacancies/ea_sin.pdf

27/09/2020

PRIDE OF GITI

Felicitation Ceremony In Honour of

Eng.K.D.Nihal Siriwardana
(GITI 1982 - 1984 Batch)

for Being the 1st ever GlTI member to be appointed to the post of

Director General of Irrigation
(18 May 200)

Eng.S.M.D.Lalith Kumara De Alwis
(GITI 1984 - 1986 Banch)

for Being the 1st ever GlTI member to be appointed to the post of

Secretary

State Ministry of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services And Train Compartments And Motor Car Industry
(27 AUG 2020)

(Photography by Eng. Gnanadasa WG)

24/04/2018

වාරිමාර්ග දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවේ #හදවත "වාරිමාර්ග අභ්‍යාස ආයතනයයි" ❤️❤️❤️

18/04/2018

1000+ likes.. thanks guys

Institute of Irrigation Department