MCC has already been signed for USD 10Mn - AKD

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa made a revelation about the MCC Compact and foreign intervention before the Maha Sangha. During an event held in Bellanwilla, the Minister of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Wimal Weerawansa said;

"The Project Director of the Millenium Challenge Corporation came to Sri Lanka during the tenure of the last government. They brought their belongings and children as well and sent the children to local schools. His second in command also came to Sri Lanka. His children have also been sent to Sri Lankan schools. They have not yet left the country. At any time, they can undertake this project. If this Government will not give the go-ahead, they will do everything they can to topple the Government and get this done. All the opposing factors and all the artificial clashes we saw were all part of that. I don't think the recent wildfires in Sri Lanka were because of natural causes. Once our Government came into power, train transportation was hampered. Trains were delayed. Likewise, many subtle things are being done as of now. Sometimes we experience various scarcities."

Ven. Prof. Medagoda Abhayatissa says that these individuals come in the guise of patriots. To which Wimal Weerawansa responded;

"Everyone in our government should focus on that. Or else we might mistakenly give them chances to proceed with this."

Many views were expressed over the controversial MCC compact in the political arena today (March 8). National Organizer of the JVP, Bimal Rathnayake said;

"The report on the MCC is being presented today. We ask the government if they have officially canceled the MCC agreement. We want to know whether the diplomat related to the MCC agreement is still in Sri Lanka? or not? Has the government told them to leave the country or not? Have they informed them officially that Sri Lanka will not sign the agreement? That does not require a 2/3 majority."

Former Provincial Council Member of the JVP, Wasantha Samarasinghe said;

"The American diplomats who were working on the MCC agreement are working in government ministries. They are working with the Ministry of Highways and Ministry of Lands. The government is announcing that they are going to sign the agreement after removing the adverse conditions when the general elections are approaching. Are they going to hinder the public by signing the agreement that Harrison brought forward? The fact that of both these teams are a part of this thieving project is clear."

Many politicians express their views about the MCC agreement before and after the elections. They promised that the agreement will not be signed because it is a hindrance to the nation. Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila said;

"President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed on the 17th of November. If there's anything to be discussed, do it with this government. We will not take the agreement into consideration. We would like to warn the US that we will throw away this agreement"

Also speaking on the matter, co-cabinet spokesperson, Bandula Gunawardane said;

"The cabinet has taken the decision to postpone signing of the agreement after taking the recommendations of the Management Interim Committee into consideration which states that the MCC consists of clauses that would harm the sovereignty and the constitution of the country."

Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa had said that all agreements will be looked at before signing them. Meanwhile, former Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa said:

"By changing a clause or two the content of the agreement will not change. The government will talk against this now and will sign it after the elections"

Leader of the JVP, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka also commented on the matter and said: "What did they say before the election? Did they say that anything about the discussions? The government should announce that they will remove the two deals. If not Ranil should say that they haven't signed a deal of such sort. Not only they have signed the agreement, but they have also taken US$ 10 million for it too."