Polgolla Barrage
Polgolla Dam with all spillways open
Location of Polgolla Barrage in Sri Lanka
Country	Sri Lanka
Location	Polgolla, Central Province
Coordinates	07°19′18″N 80°38′42″E / 7.32167°N 80.64500°E / 7.32167; 80.64500
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Opening date	July 1976 (1976-07)
Owner(s)	Mahaweli Authority
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Barrage
Impounds	Mahaweli River
Height (foundation)	14.6 m (48 ft)
Length	144 m (472 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Polgolla Reservoir
Total capacity	4,100,000 m3 (140,000,000 cu ft)
Active capacity	2,100,000 m3 (74,000,000 cu ft)
Maximum length	1,200 m (3,900 ft)
Maximum width	170 m (560 ft)
Ukuwela Power Station
Coordinates	07°23′56″N 80°39′08″E / 7.39889°N 80.65222°E / 7.39889; 80.65222
Operator(s)	Ceylon Electricity Board
Turbines	2 × 20 MW
Installed capacity	40 MW
Website http://www.mahawelicomplex.lk/Poldam.html

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 (5 mi) north, via penstock.^[1][2]

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 07°23′56″N 80°39′08″E / 7.39889°N 80.65222°E / 7.39889; 80.65222 (Ukuwela Power Station), near Ukuwela, via an 8 km (5 mi) long underground penstock. Water from the reservoir is transferred to the power station at a rate of 2,000 cu ft/s (57 m³/s).^[2]

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 (87 mi) downstream of the Polgolla Barrage.^[3][1]