Sri Lanka, Nov. 6 -- The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) pact will only be signed after a vibrant public dialogue and after consulting Parliament and the Supreme Court, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka assured.

Speaking at a press conference at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo yesterday, Ranawaka said it was highly unlikely that it would be signed prior to the forthcoming Presidential Election.

"We are a democratic government. Now the MCC is a public document open for public dialogue. The ACSA agreement was signed secretly in 2007 by the then Rajapaksa administration even without informing Cabinet.

Unlike them, we do everything aboveboard. We will present the document in Parliament...