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

24 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva formally rose to ask a question during the proceedings. No substantive issue or policy matter was stated in the recorded excerpt. Oral Question: (Q.4/2025) - Question stood down Parliamentary Procedure Read →
23 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva marked the International Day of Sign Languages, emphasizing that communication rights are essential to the dignity and inclusion of Sri Lanka’s Deaf community, and noted that a Sign Language Bill prepared by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities has been sent to the Legal Draftsman. He called for professional recognition and support for sign language interpreters, stating that lack of access to sign language marginalizes Deaf persons in education, health, and daily life. He also raised allegations of sexual abuse of four Deaf children at a school in Anuradhapura, urged strict punishment and systemic reforms in the governance of such institutions, and requested that the school be brought under the North Central Provincial Council while calling for unanimous passage of the forthcoming Bill. Second Reading Debate: National Building Research Institute Bill Justice & Human RightsWomen & ChildrenEducation Read →
10 September 2025 AI summary Sugath Wasantha de Silva supported the Bill to remove additional benefits and perks granted to former Presidents, arguing that elected representatives should return to ordinary citizenship after leaving office. He linked the measure to the NPP’s electoral mandate to change what he described as an anti-people political culture, while saying lawful entitlements would remain. He urged all Members to vote for the Bill, stating that taxpayers facing economic hardship should not fund expanded privileges obtained through previous Cabinets. Debate: Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Corruption & Governance ReformCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva defended the NPP Government’s foreign policy as non-aligned and consistent, rejecting Opposition claims that it was retreating or creating divisions, while reaffirming support for Palestinians and opposition to attacks on civilians. He highlighted the Foreign Minister’s statement at the 60th UN Human Rights Council session and said the Government is drafting a new Bill, now with the Legal Draftsman, to align Sri Lanka’s disability law with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He argued that the existing 1996 Act is inadequate and called for a whole-of-government framework with ministry focal points, coordination mechanisms, and independent monitoring to secure the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates on Investment Promotion and Protection Foreign AffairsJustice & Human RightsEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
24 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva stated that education reforms should ensure inclusive education for children with disabilities by providing appropriate supports such as Braille, physical access, sign language, and early identification with tailored learning for children with intellectual disabilities. He said the Ministry of Education has incorporated these measures into the reform agenda to ensure equal access to classrooms, assessments, and extracurricular activities. He emphasized that the reforms should cover special, non-formal, and inclusive education, with adequate commitment and funding, enabling persons with disabilities to become skilled and dignified contributors to national development. Adjournment Debate: Proposed Educational Reforms (continued) Education Read →
9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva presented and accepted a petition on behalf of Miss W.M. Nethmi Chamatka of Kotuwegedara, Madenwala, Hakuranketha. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva objected to terminology used by Hon. Nizam Kariapper when referring to persons with disabilities, stating that it was inappropriate. He requested that the relevant words be expunged from the Hansard if possible. Adjournment Debate: Employment for Persons with Disabilities Parliamentary Procedure Read →
8 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva moved an Adjournment Motion calling for immediate action to improve the economic participation and social inclusion of persons with disabilities. Citing the 2012 Census figure that 71 percent of Sri Lanka’s 1.6 million persons with disabilities are not economically active, he said existing measures such as the 1988 public service 3 percent recruitment quota, the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, and UN commitments are not being properly implemented. He urged the Government to ensure recruitment procedures and official practice uphold the quota and enable persons with disabilities to contribute to national development. Adjournment Debate: Employment for Persons with Disabilities Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceEmployment Read →
6 June 2025 AI summary Sugath Wasantha de Silva expressed condolences on the deaths of four former Members of Parliament, reflecting in detail on J.R.P. Suriya Peruma, Maavai S. Senathirajah and Kosala Nuwan Jayawira. He described Suriya Peruma as a bilingual intellectual, writer, historian and political thinker shaped by post-independence ideological debates, and Senathirajah as a committed representative of the Tamil people who remained steadfast in his political convictions. He also recalled Jayawira as a colleague who had taken oaths alongside him and, despite a brief parliamentary tenure, was remembered for a long period of public and political service. Debate: Votes of Condolence for Four Former MPs Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 June 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva supported the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill, arguing that public transport must be standardized, regulated, and made more consumer-oriented to improve safety, service quality, and passenger protection. He criticized attempts to obstruct the constitution of local authorities after the election, describing them as contrary to the public mandate, and said attacks on the Minister of Justice reflected the past conduct of former rulers. He welcomed the introduction of low-floor buses and called for accessible bus stands, terminals, and transport information for persons with disabilities, while also urging regulation of school transport and three-wheelers. Debate: National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading InfrastructureLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
20 May 2025 AI summary A petition from Mr. G. Kapila Abeysekara of Madivela, Kotte, was formally presented and laid on the Table for parliamentary consideration. Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
10 April 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva linked the violence of 1988–89 to earlier political events, including the 1977 UNP mandate, the Jaffna Public Library burning, the 1982 referendum, Black July, and the proscription of the JVP. He argued that the suppression of open political activity led to underground resistance and cited the Batalanda Report and other alleged detention and torture sites as evidence of state-linked abuses against youth and left activists. He called for renewed parliamentary attention to these incidents, justice for victims, and punishment of those responsible regardless of status or family connections. Debate: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Batalanda Torture Chambers Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
10 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva expressed condolences on the death of Dr. Janaki Jayawardena and linked his remarks to the responsibility to protect and strengthen free education. He urged that special education be central to education reforms, with experts and special education teachers included in decision-making, and questioned why admissions to special education teacher training had been limited to 15. He also called for justice for Special Education Project Officers affected by non-implementation of a 2006 Cabinet decision, and for inclusive education measures such as accessible classrooms, assistive technology, mobility access, sign language support, and appropriate alternatives in examination papers for students with disabilities. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Seventeenth Allotted Day – Committee Stage Education Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva questioned whether remarks by the SLFP General Secretary reflected the SLFP or Opposition view on persons with disabilities and urged cross-party cooperation under a “leaving no one behind” policy. He said the Budget would raise the disability allowance from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000, expand beneficiaries from about 150,000 to at least 400,000, eliminate waiting lists, and enforce accessibility measures. He also announced a Rs. 1 billion allocation to build a national disability database, arguing that data-driven policy is needed to integrate persons with disabilities into social welfare, education, technology, daily life, and national development. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceWomen & Children Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva criticized an unnamed MP as politically confused and asked the Leader of the Opposition to clarify the Opposition’s collective position on persons with disabilities. A quorum bell was rung during the exchange. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
5 March 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva responded to personal remarks made outside Parliament about his visual impairment, stating that they reflected prejudice and caused justified anger. He rejected accusations that he was sowing hatred and instead questioned whether references to MPs being “beaten” amounted to incitement against NPP or JVP members. He also highlighted long-standing failures to implement disability rights measures, including the 1996 Act, the 1988 circular reserving 3 per cent of government jobs for persons with disabilities, the 2003 disability policy and the 2014 National Action Plan. Appropriation Bill, 2025 – Committee Stage Continued: Heads 124, 151, 331 Justice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva argued that Sri Lanka must implement the long-standing 3 per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities in the public sector before expecting compliance from the private sector, noting high unemployment and unfilled opportunities in areas such as railway call services and Braille publishing. He called for a review of placements made under the Multipurpose Development Task Force and for welfare and social empowerment measures to support disabled persons and their families. He also urged enactment of domestic legislation aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including implementation and monitoring mechanisms under Article 33, and proposed a time-bound, evidence-based service delivery system built on updated national disability data. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Women & ChildrenEmploymentJustice & Human Rights Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva cited 2012 Census data indicating that over 1.7 million persons with disabilities were recorded in Sri Lanka, 57 per cent of them women, and that 71 per cent were outside the labour force. He noted that the data is outdated and the current situation may be more severe, and highlighted limited economic access for disabled persons. He pointed to poor implementation of the 1988 circular requiring 3 per cent of public sector jobs to be reserved for persons with disabilities. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Justice & Human RightsWomen & ChildrenEmployment Read →
24 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva moved an Adjournment Motion calling for a rights-based welfare and empowerment programme for persons with disabilities, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He proposed drafting new national legislation, collecting classification and data needed for evidence-based policy, and developing plans to use the economic capacities of the disabled community for social development. He also noted that, as a visually impaired Member, he was presenting and reading an Adjournment Motion in Braille for the first time in the House. Adjournment Debate: Policy-Driven Programme for Persons with Disabilities Women & ChildrenJustice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
18 February 2025 AI summary Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva supported the Government’s first Budget, arguing that it is inclusive and centred on security, empowerment and inclusion, particularly for persons with disabilities and marginalized groups. He highlighted allocations and measures including Rs. 100 million for a national disability database, an increase in the disability allowance to Rs. 10,000, local production of assistive devices, low-floor buses, care and skill development centres, and improved health and special education services. He said these measures would help integrate persons with disabilities into the economy and society, and called for Opposition support for the Budget. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading of the 2025 Budget Public FinanceWomen & ChildrenHealthcare Read →