Sajith says he objected to MCC in UNP Cabinet and he is still opposed to it

By Saman Indrajith

Capital Markets and State Enterprises Reforms State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal told Parliament yesterday that the government had not yet discussed with Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) on revising its clauses based on the recommendations made by a review Committee.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on the proposed agreement with the MCC, Minister Cabraal said the government had been able to identify all adverse clauses of the agreement through the committee appointed to look into it.

The Minister said that the government would follow the usual procedure when reviewing an international treaty.

Opposition Leader Premadasa, making a statement, queried if the government would tear off the MCC agreement. He said that the proposed agreement had been one of the main issues of the SLPP election propaganda campaign. “The SLPP pledged that it would refrain from signing the MCC agreement. However, after the election, the members of the government were saying 70 percent of the agreement was favourable to the country.”

Chief Government Whip Minister Johnston Fernando said the Standing Orders permitted the opposition leader to make special statements and raise questions but not come up with follow-up questions thereafter. “On the other hand, when the MCC was passed by the former government, Premadasa was a Cabinet minister. It was passed by the Cabinet of that government. He kept mum then and now raises questions. You should have opposed it then. What is the point giving your approval to the agreement then and now come and question us,” queried Minister Fernando.

Opposition Leader Premadasa: How do you know whether I kept mum or spoke for or against the agreement at that Cabinet meeting? You were not there. I opposed the agreement in that Cabinet meeting. I am still opposed to the MCC.