| Victoria Dam වික්ටෝරියා වේල්ල | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:VictoriaDam-SriLanka-April2011-1.jpg) The dam on 15 April 2011. Three days after its 26th anniversary of opening. | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Sri_Lanka_rel-2_location_map.svg)  Location of Victoria Dam වික්ටෝරියා වේල්ල in Sri Lanka | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Location | Teldeniya |
| Coordinates | 07°14′29″N 80°47′05″E / 7.24139°N 80.78472°E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 14 August 1978 |
| Opening date | 14 April 1985 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Arch dam |
| Impounds | Mahaweli River |
| Height (foundation) | 122 m (400 ft) |
| Length | 520 m (1,706 ft) |
| Width (base) | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Spillways | 8 |
| Spillway capacity | 8,200 m3/s (289,580 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Victoria Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 722,000,000 m3 (2.55×1010 cu ft) |
| Active capacity | 689,000,000 m3 (2.43×1010 cu ft) |
| Catchment area | 1,869 km2 (722 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 23 km2 (9 sq mi) |
| Victoria Power Station | |
| Coordinates | 07°12′00″N 80°48′21″E / 7.20000°N 80.80583°E |
| Turbines | 3 × 70 MW |
| Installed capacity | 210 MW |
| Capacity factor | 42.4% |
| Annual generation | 780 GWh |
Victoria Dam (Sinhala: වික්ටෝරියා වේල්ල Viktoriya Vella) is an arch dam located 130 mi (209 km) upstream of the Mahaweli River's mouth and 4 mi (6 km) from Teldeniya. It is named in honor of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Its main purposes are irrigation and hydroelectric power production. It is the tallest dam in Sri Lanka, and supports a 210 MW power station, the largest hydroelectric power station in the country. Construction of the dam commenced in 1978, funded by aid granted by the United Kingdom under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II, was completed during the incumbency of President Junius Richard Jayewardene. the dam was ceremonially opened by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher.