Senanayake Samudraya
| Senanayake Samudraya | |
|---|---|
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Location | Ampara District |
| Coordinates | 7°12′50″N 81°32′36″E / 7.2138°N 81.5432°E |
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 24 August 1949 |
| Opening date | 1953 |
| Owner(s) | MIWRM |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Gal Oya |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Senanayake Samudhraya |
| Total capacity | 950,000,000m3 |
Senanayake Samudraya (Sinhala: සේනානායක සමුද්රය, Tamil: சேனானாயக்க சமூத்ரய) is the biggest reservoir and man-made lake in Sri Lanka. It is locally known as the sea (Sinhala: සමුද්රය, romanized: samudraya, Tamil: கடல்). Senanayake Samudraya was opened on 28 August 1949 under the Gal Oya Multipurpose Scheme, which was completed in 1953 by D. S. Senanayake.
Senanayake Samudraya was formed by damming the Gal Oya river and other smaller rivers between a pair of mountains in Inginiyagala.
Senanayake Samudraya is the largest and one of the most iconic reservoirs with an earthen dam built after receiving freedom from the British and was completed in 1953. The reservoir is sometimes referred to as "Inginiyagala Reservoir". The Senanayaka Samudraya is part of the Gal Oya multipurpose irrigation system project which started in the year 1949 and was completed in 1953 by the first prime minister of Sri Lanka, D. S. Senanayake.