Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa requested the government not to sign the Millenium Corporation Challenge (MCC) grant agreement without making its content available to parliament and to the public.

The Opposition Leader's remarks came two days after the Cabinet of ministers decided to sign the agreement.

This consists of grant funds for traffic management in Colombo, road construction island-wide, and land administration improvements. The proposal pertaining to the grant was presented to the Cabinet by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the media yesterday that the government would sign the agreement before the upcoming Presidential election.