Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· National List

Profession: Other

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Speeches 42 #110 of 225·#55 in party

Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)

Top topic Justice & Human Rights 17 speeches

Last spoke 10 June 2026 in Oral question

Activity by sitting

31 sittings · counts only, no scoring.

Topic focus

AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.

Speech history

42 speeches

10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva asked whether the Ministry has a comprehensive plan to collect accurate islandwide data on persons with disabilities, including the type and severity of disabilities. He raised concerns about disparities in disability living assistance for North, East and plantation communities, noting that the Budget had allocated funds for a national data collection effort, and asked whether it would be implemented within the year. Oral Question: School Dropouts Since 2010 (Q.3) Public FinanceEthnic Reconciliation & DevolutionJustice & Human Rights Read →
10 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva raised concerns about the low travel allowance of Rs. 2,000 for central Government Social Services Officers and disparities with provincial officers. He said these officers are frontline workers supporting persons with disabilities but face difficulties covering their areas, while retirements and departures from service also require regularization. He asked whether the forthcoming Budget could increase travel allowances for central Government Social Services Officers involved in disability assistance. Oral Question: School Dropouts Since 2010 (Q.3) Public FinanceWomen & Children Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva asked the Deputy Minister what provision the Ministry has made in the National Child Policy for including children aged 3–5 with special educational needs in preschools. Referring to the Rs. 5,000 monthly allowance introduced in recent Budgets for children with neurological disabilities and developmental delays, he sought details on the inclusive policy and programme planned to ensure fair early childhood opportunities within the preschool system. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions EducationWomen & Children Read →
19 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva said early childhood development gives insufficient attention to children with disabilities compared with general education. He called for a national, scientifically based screening and assessment process, linked to hospitals, MOH offices and the wider health system, to identify disabilities early and direct children to preschool education. He asked the Deputy Minister what steps the Ministry is taking to establish a strong data system to support this process. Oral Questions: Department of Wildlife Conservation and Other Questions HealthcareEducation Read →
8 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva defended the Government’s relief measures, citing a Rs. 10 billion package for low-income and Aswesuma beneficiaries, inflation control, and previous disaster relief payments. He said the Government had strengthened supply chains through engagement with Russia, India and China amid global fuel concerns, and welcomed the reopening of the refurbished Pettah Central Bus Stand with accessibility features under the Clean Sri Lanka initiative. He called for a passenger-centric transport system, expansion and protection of low-floor buses and SLTB’s Metro unit, and enforcement of EPF/ETF obligations for private bus workers while criticizing opposition to public transport subsidies and worker support payments. Adjournment Debate: Mitigate the Impact of Middle Eastern War on Sri Lanka's Economy InfrastructureCost of LivingEmployment Read →
5 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva argued that Sri Lanka’s political representation of women is inconsistent with their majority share of the population, noting their low presence in Parliament and local government and calling for reforms to increase women’s political power. He highlighted the economic contributions of women in tea, garments and overseas employment, while questioning whether they receive fair social, economic and cultural benefits. He focused particularly on women with disabilities, describing their exclusion from representation, education, employment and family life, and called for equal and, where necessary, affirmative rights to address economic, patriarchal and disability-based barriers. Adjournment: National Care Policy and International Women's Day Justice & Human RightsEmploymentWomen & Children Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Sugath Wasantha de Silva raised concerns about persons with disabilities facing administrative barriers in hospitals, including being required to bring companions at personal expense. He asked whether the Ministry would intervene to reduce the cost of assistive medical devices such as canes and walkers when they are obtained outside state provision. Oral Question: Improvement of Health Facilities for Persons with Disabilities (Q.8/2025) HealthcareJustice & Human Rights Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva thanked the Deputy Minister for the response and acknowledged the islandwide health programme to reduce disability. He raised concerns about communication barriers between health staff and persons with disabilities, particularly regarding sign language. He also asked the Ministry to address the requirement in some hospitals for disabled patients to have a paid companion caregiver before admission, and to consider alternative arrangements. Oral Question: Improvement of Health Facilities for Persons with Disabilities (Q.8/2025) Justice & Human RightsHealthcare Read →
17 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media to report on measures taken to improve health care and access for persons with disabilities. He sought details on clinic access, priority procedures in medical institutions, staff training and attitudinal development, technical strategies, use of modern technology, financial assistance for medicines and investigations, and measures to ensure equal access to services. Oral Question: Improvement of Health Facilities for Persons with Disabilities (Q.8/2025) HealthcareWomen & Children Read →
23 January 2026 AI summary Welcoming amendments on university administration, the Member said appointments such as Deans should be made through more democratic processes to reduce subjectivity, nepotism and cronyism, and indicated that similar reforms should later extend up to Vice-Chancellor appointments. He also argued for democratizing university access for persons with disabilities, stating that all eligible students should be able to enter any degree stream and citing barriers in lecture halls, libraries and hostels. He noted Government measures including a Higher Education Ministry policy on inclusion and an additional Rs. 5,000 monthly allowance above Mahapola for university students with disabilities, and said access should also be expanded for groups such as members of the Sri Lanka Thalassaemia Association. Debate: Universities (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading Women & ChildrenEducationCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
22 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva proposed that universities establish specialized units to provide accessible content conversion and modern assistive technology, staffed by qualified personnel. He argued that disability support should be framed through a social rather than solely medical model and asked whether admissions for students with disabilities would be expanded through defined ratios or other mechanisms. Oral Question Supplementary: Disabled Students at State Universities Education Read →
20 January 2026 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva supported the Aswesuma amendment, stating that the Government is extending benefits by six months and increasing assistance as part of a welfare-oriented programme to improve living standards. He said welfare should be timely and targeted, citing the increase in the chronic kidney disease allowance from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 10,000, while also emphasizing that beneficiaries should be empowered rather than made dependent. He also referred to a proposed post-cyclone “Diththa” reconstruction package intended to rebuild homes to better standards, and criticized identity-based and protest-driven politics. Debate - Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme Public FinanceCost of LivingEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva raised concerns about students facing barriers to education due to lack of accessible instructional mediums, such as Braille and sign language, and inadequate physical access to campuses and hostels. He asked what measures the Ministry and the University Grants Commission would take to address these accessibility issues. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) Education Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva welcomed measures to admit students with disabilities and provide courses and learning support. He asked whether facilities and human-resource units similar to the centre at the University of Colombo would be established in other universities to support inclusive education. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) Education Read →
5 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education to provide detailed information on students with disabilities enrolled in State universities, including numbers by university and disability type. He also sought clarification on admission methodology, any quota system, steps to update and streamline enrolment, and whether inclusive study methods have been implemented. The question further requested details on whether students with disabilities can choose any subject stream, what streams they currently follow, and reasons for any limitations or non-selection of certain streams. Oral Question: Development Officers Attached to National Schools and Provincial Schools (Q.1309/2025) Education Read →
3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in the context of the ongoing natural disaster, expressing condolences and emphasizing that persons with disabilities, estimated at 8.7 per cent of the population, must be included in relief and recovery efforts. He said the Government is ready to provide human and financial resources, and urged affected persons to communicate rehabilitation needs through field officers and Divisional Secretariats. He noted plans to update the Disabilities Act in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to present a Sign Language Bill, while calling on media outlets and officials to ensure disaster information and relief services are accessible, including through sign-language broadcasts and proactive outreach. Debate: Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Heads) HealthcareJustice & Human RightsWomen & Children Read →
25 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva emphasized the importance of inclusive education for students with special needs within the broader education system. He argued that education should transmit knowledge, develop skills, and shape attitudes for all learners, and highlighted the need for focused attention and support for special-needs students during the Committee Stage debate on the Ministry. Debate: Committee Stage on Appropriation Bill 2026 - Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Fifteenth Allotted Day) Education Read →
21 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva marked the first anniversary of the current Government and urged support for its anti-narcotics efforts, arguing that youth protection is essential to national development. He focused on disability rights reforms, stating that amendments to the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 28 of 1996, aligned with the UNCRPD, will be taken to the National Council and then to the Legal Draftsman and Parliament. He cited increased allowances, expanded beneficiaries, vocational training, a proposed three per cent public service employment quota, and a private sector wage subsidy as measures to empower persons with disabilities. He also highlighted support for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities and called on social service officers and state institutions to help integrate persons with disabilities into social and economic life. Appropriation Bill, 2026 – Committee Stage Debate: Twelfth Allotted Day Justice & Human RightsEmploymentLaw & Order Read →
12 November 2025 AI summary Sugath Wasantha de Silva indicated that he would ask the question before the House. Questions on Order Paper - Q.1312/2025, Q.1323/2025 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva supported the 2026 Budget, arguing that it combines economic development with social justice and specifically addresses the needs of more than 1.6 million persons with disabilities. He highlighted allocations for a Rs. 10,000 monthly disability allowance, accessibility improvements in public facilities and transport, day-care protection centres for children with intellectual disabilities, education support payments, and university policy reforms. He also noted plans to enforce the 3 per cent public-sector employment quota for persons with disabilities and provide private-sector wage subsidies of up to Rs. 15,000 per month for 24 months. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Public FinanceEducationWomen & Children Read →