MCC committee report in four months: Govt.

Wednesday, 22 January 2020 02:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Foreign Minister tells P’ment MCC decision will be made after report
Reiterates President will not sign any agreement harmful to SL

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Government has decided to halt the much-debated Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement, pending the Committee report expected in four months.

Minister of Foreign Relations and Minister of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations and Leader of the House of Parliament Dinesh Gunawardena, responding to JVP lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the progress of the MCC review Committee, held President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not enter into any agreement harmful for the country.

“The Government appointed a Committee on 18 December 2019 under the Chairmanship of Professor of Colombo University Lalithasiri Gunaruwan to study the MCC agreement. D. S. Jayaweera, President’s Counsel Nihal Jayawardena and Nalaka Jayaweera are the other members of the Committee. The Committee is given a time period of four months to study the matter and submit the report. This report of the Committee would be presented before Parliament when it is submitted,” he said.

Minister Gunawardena stated that the Cabinet of the former UNP Government approved the MCC agreement, and then the current Government, while being the Opposition, objected to it. “UNP Cabinet approved the MCC. But people rejected the MCC. During the recent election, we pledged to rectify the damages made to the country including this agreement,” he added.

MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, delivering the special statement under section 27(2) of the Standing Order, demanded an explanation from the Government to clarify the rumours that the MCC agreement is signed and will be implemented soon.

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