Work on the hydro power project began in 2006, with the Japanese government pledging Yen 37,817 million. The state-run Ceylon Electricity Board has also chipped in with over 8.5 billion rupees towards the construction work.
The underground Upper Kotmale tunnel, is also Sri Lanka’s longest tunnel, with a distance of 12.9 kilometers. The tunnel was finished in late 2010.
Okada arrived in Colombo on Friday for a two-day visit to coincide with marking 60-years of diplomatic relations between both countries.
He is also touring several key Japanese-funded projects and is due to visit a mini-power grid, a dry-fish project and a coconut development farm in the northern Kilinochchi region.