AG informs court no decision yet on MCC deal

The Supreme Court was informed yesterday that no decision has been taken on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera informed the court that the new Government is to review the agreement before a final decision is taken.

The Government had asserted yesterday that the MCC development assistance grant has not been ruled out.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that the Government will carefully review the agreement and ensure it is made public and open for debate before a final decision is taken. 

He insisted that no decision has been taken on signing the agreement.

The Minister said that the agreement must first be placed before Parliament and openly discussed before a final decision is taken.

He however asserted that no agreement will be signed if it harms Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the former Government had approved the $480 million MCC development assistance grant.

Sri Lanka requested the support, which if approved, will benefit at least 11 million Sri Lankans through the funding of Government- and private sector- identified needs. 

The programs supported by the grant will reduce traffic congestion, improve public transportation in Colombo, upgrade provincial roads, and expand existing Government of Sri Lanka initiatives to improve land administration and strengthen the land rights of Sri Lankans.

The United States had denied claims that Sri Lanka will own any land under the development assistance grant. Sri Lanka will oversee and manage all grant-funded projects throughout the implementation of the five-year grant assistance agreement.