Disappointed with the continued politicization of MCC grant: USA

Presidential committee appointed to look into the proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement with the US government has expressed reservations over it saying some clauses cannot be legally implemented.

The President’s Office quoted the Chairman of the expert committee, Prof. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, as telling President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, that USD 7.4 million and 2.6 million had been granted to the then Government under two stages as part of the proposed deal, but the money had not been accounted for.

US Embassy Public Affairs Officer David McGuire said that no MCC grant monies were ever transferred to or spent by the Government of Sri Lanka under the proposed $480 million grant.

Asked if the expert committee had meetings with the Embassy to clarify its findings, McGuire said the review committee had a single meeting with the MCC country director when first appointed and did not request a meeting with Embassy officials.

He also noted that the Government of Sri Lanka first requested an MCC grant in 2005, under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“It is disappointing to see the continued politicization and spread of disinformation related to the proposed $480 million grant Sri Lanka requested from the US Government,” he said.