2021-02-06 15:05:56 GMT2021-02-06 23:05:56(Beijing Time) Xinhua English Video Player Close COLOMBO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has inaugurated the construction of an irrigation tunnel to be undertaken by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd (CSCEC), local media reported here Saturday. President Rajapaksa on Friday laid the foundation stone at the groundbreaking ceremony for the 28 km-long irrigation tunnel which stretches from Elahera Konduruwewa to Palugaswewa Mahamigaswewa and passes through three wildlife sanctuaries. The tunnel is part of the North Central Province Maha Ela Project to divert excess water from the Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga reservoir. Construction is estimated to cost 244 million U.S. dollars and is financed by the Sri Lankan government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).