The government will be seeking the people’s opinion before signing Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement as US and Sri Lanka respect democracy.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressed this view when he held talks with the US State Department’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells, who concluded an official visit to Sri Lanka.
The President stated that as both the United States of America and Sri Lanka are countries that respect democracy, the ambition of the people must be considered with regard to moving forward with the MCC agreement, the President’s Media Division reported.
During the discussion, the President also informed the top US official that a committee of experts is currently studying the proposal.
Alice Wells also called Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday 14.
“US values its relationship with Sri Lanka and looks forward to strengthening ties by expanding cooperation on economy and trade, counter-terrorism, security, transitional justice and human rights - both of our nations will benefit,” she tweeted following the meeting.
Government has to make a last ditch attempt to sign the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact grant of US $480 million for the implementation of transport infrastructure improvement and streamline land administration initiative in Sri Lanka.
This grant offered to Sri Lanka for the implementation of transport infrastructure improvement and streamline land administration initiative.
The wide spread opposition from political parties including the SLPP and leading professional organisations as well as Buddhist priests has prompted the President to reconsider the MCC Compact.
However US has not made any statement on the out come of the MCC board meeting on the decision of its grant to Sri Lanka which was scheduled for December last year.
(LI)