Sri Lanka has no obstacle to refuse MCC pact : Samaraweera

COLOMBO (News1st): Former finance minister Mangala Samaraweera has said there is no obstacle to refuse the US Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement. "America has not given us a single cent through the MCC agreement," Samaraweera said during the Newsline programme hosted by News1st. The former minister claimed that he knows the details about the agreement since its inception, as he held key ministerial portfolios in previous governments. He said the US had shot down attempts to sign the agreement under the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government due to a rise in abductions at the time. "One of the main preconditions for the agreement to be signed is that there has to be democracy in the country," Samaraweera, the then foreign minister said. He added that Ajith Nivard Cabraal, a former central bank governor had been appointed to liaise between the Sri Lankan and US governments. "Mahinda Rajapaksa's government was desperate to get the money under this grant," Samaraweera remarked. The MCC agreement would see USD 480 million being granted to Sri Lanka for transport and land administration projects. "Gotabaya Rajapaksa's administration will not ink an agreement with any country if it violates the constitution, the country's laws, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national economy," Bandula Gunawardana, a cabinet spokesman said on Thursday. He added that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has given the ministers to submit their views on the report of the committee that was appointed to review the agreement.