The United States says the Sri Lanka Parliament will need to review and approve the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement with Sri Lanka once it is signed.
The US Embassy in Colombo said that consistent with the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s worldwide policy in all partner countries, once the grant assistance agreement is signed, the Government of Sri Lanka will send it to parliament for approval.
Inasmuch, Parliament will have ample opportunity to review the grant assistance agreement, the US Embassy said.
During that review period, the Government of Sri Lanka will develop plans to implement the grant assistance agreement and design projects to improve transportation and land administration.
The Embassy noted that the grant assistance agreement will directly benefit over 11 million Sri Lankans and meaningfully stimulate economic growth.
The US noted that Parliamentary review and approval are required by MCC to ensure the grant assistance agreement has the support of the Government.
Former President and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLP) leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had yesterday opposed moves by the Government to sign the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement before the Presidential election.
Rajapaksa, in a statement, said that before the agreement is signed the contents must be made public.
“The Cabinet has decided to enter into a pact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the USA. The Prime Minister in answering a question put to him by the media, stated that the government intends signing this agreement before the presidential elections. It is now just over two weeks to the presidential elections,” Rajapaksa said.
He stressed in the strongest possible terms that no agreement should be hurriedly signed with a foreign Government just days before a decisive Presidential election.
Courtesy: Colombo Gazette
