On an order by the then minister Basil Rajapaksa, the NCP was given Rs. 2,700 million to renovate 53 flood-affected roads in the area, to coincide with the exhibition.

The GM in question had given the road building contracts to one contractor (47 roads), and the remaining six roads to that contractor’s son.

Giving an assurance the work has been completed, he has paid Rs. 1,118 million to the two contractors.

However, an inquiry by the Peradeniya University found that the main contractor had completed only 26 roads, although he had been fully paid.

Based on the university report, the NCP suspended the remaining payments and interdicted the GM.

At a court hearing, the ruling was that the GM had furnished false information and exceeded his powers.

His replacement as the GM resigned due to pressure by an area politician, who had been insisting that the contractor be paid the balance money.

This particular politician also worked to get the sacked GM reinstated in order to obtain a bribe from the contractor, say NCP sources.

Before joining the UDA, that GM was sacked by the Mahaweli Authority where he was an engineer, after being found guilty of treasure hunting.