MCC Agreement; Gammanpila challenges Mangala, Patali for a debate

By Thisari Walawege

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila recently challenged Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka for a debate on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement with the US.  
While stating that the MCC agreement  was ‘traitorous’, MP Gammanpila invited Ministers Samaraweera and Ranawaka to stop spreading ‘false’ information regarding the MCC agreement and participate in the debate to reveal the truth to the public.  

“We hope that if they truly believe that this MCC agreement is beneficial, they would participate in this debate without giving false excuses,” he said.  
According to MP Gammanpila, MCC agreement had a negative effect on the sovereignty of the countries such as Madagascar and Panama which had signed the agreement in the past. Moreover, he said their animosity towards the MCC agreement was not based on political motives but on the pure love for the country.  
“This is one of the most dangerous agreements in history which poses a great threat to the sovereignty of the country. As people who love this country, we cannot be passive onlookers and watch this betrayal,” he said.    

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said he would engage in any dialogue or interaction with anyone rooted only in the
Sri Lankan soil.   

Responding to a challenge by MP Udaya Gammanpila for a debate, he said he would not debate with someone whose family members hold
foreign citizenship.   

“I interact with anyone rooted in the Sri Lankan soil,” he said.   

He said the U.S. would secure entire Sri Lanka in its grip once an America citizen becomes the President of this country.