MTD Walkers group and Daya Gamage Constructions, two companies wielding immense political clout, are among the local contractors eying for the contract relating to the construction of 65000 houses for IDPs in the North and East. 

Amaratunga has strong links with top-brass members of the present government and also with the members of the former first family. 

Daya Gamage constructions is owned by Primary Industries Minister Daya Gamage, a senior politician in the United National Party. His Wife Anoma Gamage too is a deputy minister of the national unity government. 

Top government sources told Asian Mirror that an influential government minister is also pushing to secure a stake for MTD Walkers in the mega housing project. 

The government held discussions with ArcelorMittal - an international company run by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal - to commence the project. However, several local companies and civil society groups raised concerns about the housing project stating houses designed for the IDPs are of poor quality. 

When contacted by Asian Mirror, a top government source said some local companies and politicians eying on the mega housing project were stirring controversies.

When the project was discussed at the Cabinet meeting recently, some ministers raised concerns about the standard of houses in the light of claimed by local industry industry players and civil society groups.