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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney at Law, M.P.

Jathika Jana balawegaya (JJB)· Colombo

Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

Profession: Attorney-at-Law

Roster profile ↗
Speeches 125 #36 of 225·#17 in party
Attendance 7/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 64 speeches
Last spoke 9 June 2026 in Debate

Activity by sitting

47 sittings · counts only, no scoring.

Topic focus

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

Speech history

125 speeches
  • 9 June 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala defended the Government’s use of Emergency Regulations as limited to cyclone relief and said they had not been used against legitimate political activity. He reaffirmed commitments to combat the underworld, investigate corruption, apply the law impartially, and continue the Easter Sunday attacks investigation, including in relation to Suresh Sale, until the alleged mastermind is identified and arrested. He rejected claims of political interference or selective justice, stating that institutions such as the Bribery Commission, Attorney General’s Department and CID were operating independently and that public officials should act without fear. Debate on Public Security Ordinance: Extension of State of Emergency Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 9 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala moved that Hon. (Mrs.) Sagarika Athawuda take the Chair. Debate on Public Security Ordinance: Extension of State of Emergency Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 9 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala stated that no concrete example had been provided to support the opposing claim or allegation. He argued that the inability to cite even one instance undermined the position being advanced. Debate on Public Security Ordinance: Extension of State of Emergency Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 9 June 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala challenged Hon. Ajith P. Perera to provide a specific example of the Government misusing Emergency powers. He asserted his right to respond to the question and demanded evidence to support the allegation. Debate on Public Security Ordinance: Extension of State of Emergency Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 9 June 2026 AI summary Raising a point of order, the Deputy Minister responded to Hon. Ajith P. Perera’s challenge on extending the Emergency by asking him to identify any instance in which the Government had abused emergency powers. The intervention sought to defend the continuation of the Emergency by questioning allegations of misuse. Debate on Public Security Ordinance: Extension of State of Emergency Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 7 May 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala defended the 90-day extension of the emergency, stating it had been used only to address public needs arising from the Ditha cyclone and not to suppress fundamental rights. He rejected Opposition criticisms on service delivery, coal procurement, Treasury issues, containers, RDA payments, and fertilizer allegations, saying inquiries, committees, or legal processes were in place and inviting members to present evidence through those channels. He said concerns raised by the Bar Association and an Opposition motion would be considered through parliamentary procedures, while reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the rule of law and an independent, efficient judiciary. Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 2 Law & OrderPublic FinanceJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 7 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala moved a procedural motion for Hon. Upul Kithsiri to take the Chair. The motion was seconded and agreed to, after which Hon. Thushari Jayasingha left the Chair and Hon. Upul Kithsiri assumed it. Debate and Approval: Public Security Ordinance Extension (Emergency) - Part 2 Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 6 May 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala said the Bill modernizes Sri Lanka’s insolvency framework, replacing outdated laws and introducing measures such as a 60-day period for distressed businesses to consider revival before liquidation. He linked the reform to the Government’s broader economic stabilization efforts and rejected Opposition claims of judicial interference, arguing that independent institutions and the Constitutional Council have strengthened judicial independence. He cited past incidents as examples of political pressure on the judiciary and said ongoing corruption and criminal cases against public figures are being pursued in line with the Government’s mandate, not as an attempt to influence courts. Debate: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill - Second Reading Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
  • 10 April 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala defended the Government against the Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion, arguing that several allegations raised against Ministers lacked evidence and that related matters, including the coal issue, were already before courts or parliamentary oversight bodies such as COPE. He said the Government was willing to debate and investigate procurement concerns, including through committees, and asserted that any loss from substandard coal would not be passed on to consumers. He also attacked the credibility of Opposition signatories by linking some to past Central Bank bond scam proceedings, while maintaining that the Government would act internally against wrongdoing if evidence emerged. Debate: No-Confidence Motion Against Minister of Energy (Hon. Kumara Jayakody) Corruption & Governance ReformParliamentary ProcedureLaw & Order Read →
  • 9 April 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala questioned the motives behind Udaya Gammanpila’s recent book on the Easter Sunday attacks, suggesting its timing and contents may be politically driven and potentially intended to influence or misdirect ongoing investigations and court proceedings. He argued that Gammanpila had remained silent during earlier inquiries, litigation and compensation processes, but was now attempting to present himself as exposing the “mastermind.” He referred to past political assassinations and unresolved cases to warn that partial disclosures and contradictory claims in the book and its foreword could obscure the truth rather than assist accountability. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Attack of 21 April 2019 Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 9 April 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala criticized recent publications and public claims concerning the Easter Sunday attacks, suggesting they were politically motivated and should not prejudice ongoing investigations. He said former CID officers, including Shani Abeysekara, were targeted after the previous government took office, citing transfers, travel restrictions and detention, and argued that proper investigation of the Vavunativu incident could have helped prevent the attacks. He stated that reports have been retrieved and given to the CID, trials are proceeding daily, and investigations are underway into ten individuals based on the Janaka de Silva Commission’s recommendations. He called on those alleging failures or political betrayal of national security to name the responsible officials and politicians, while affirming that investigations would continue on an evidence-based basis. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Attack of 21 April 2019 Corruption & Governance ReformSecurity & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 9 April 2026 AI summary The Deputy Minister supported extending the Emergency Regulations and related orders, arguing they are needed to maintain essential services, continue relief after the “Dicha” cyclone, and respond to external risks including the Middle East conflict’s impact on energy security. He rejected claims that the Government was using emergency powers to suppress rights, stating it was acting under law and had stabilized an economy inherited in bankruptcy. He also cited reforms abolishing certain privileges of former Presidents and MPs’ pensions as examples of political morality, and said the Government would resist ethnic or religious divisiveness while pursuing “National Unity through Equality.” Debate on Regulations under Defence Acts and Extension of State of Emergency Ethnic Reconciliation & DevolutionSecurity & DefencePublic Finance Read →
  • 17 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala said the Government’s policy is to strengthen CIABOC, the Police and the Attorney General’s Department as independent institutions, noting that operational guidelines had been issued for the anti-corruption law passed under the previous administration. He cited Sri Lanka’s improvement in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index and said CIABOC is being expanded from a Colombo-centred structure to 24 district offices with around 973 staff. Responding to Opposition allegations, he stated that cases, including against a government Minister, would proceed without political protection, and said complaints on procurement or corruption should be pursued through CIABOC, the CID and the Attorney General’s Department. Debate: Approval of Remuneration and Service Conditions of CIABOC Officers and Employees Corruption & Governance ReformLaw & Order Read →
  • 17 March 2026 AI summary Officers of the Civil Defence Force are recruited on the undertaking that they may serve anywhere in the country. However, transfers are subject to an appeals process for officers with genuine personal or humanitarian concerns, and such issues are addressed through that mechanism. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1 to Q.7 and Standing Order 27(2) questions) Law & Order Read →
  • 17 March 2026 AI summary The Member acknowledged that the answer provided to part (b)(ii) may be considered insufficient and undertook to provide a more adequate response in due course. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1 to Q.7 and Standing Order 27(2) questions) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 17 March 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, responding on behalf of the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, provided data on six Civil Defence Force headquarters in the Anuradhapura District, including officer and troop strength totaling 7,895 officers and 6,444 troops. He listed current duties ranging from security, administrative and police station work to archaeological site protection, education support, wildlife duties, construction, and revenue-generating projects, with detailed deployments provided in annexes. He confirmed that the Civil Defence Department operates farms and enterprises, naming several crop and non-agricultural projects, and referred to annexed details on land extents, manpower, income, expenditure, harvests and sales for 2024 and 2025. Oral Answers to Questions (Q.1 to Q.7 and Standing Order 27(2) questions) AgriculturePublic FinanceSecurity & Defence Read →
  • 6 March 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala supported the time-bound extension of the state of emergency, stating it was needed for Ditwah cyclone-related essential services and preparedness amid global security uncertainties affecting Sri Lanka’s maritime and humanitarian responsibilities. He argued that incidents such as the IRIS vessel off Galle required legal readiness for search-and-rescue, investigation and medical response while maintaining a neutral humanitarian position. He rejected Opposition allegations of misuse of emergency powers and misinformation, saying no substantiated instance of abuse had been presented and that the relevant emergency regulations had already been gazetted. Debate: Resolution on Public Security Ordinance - Extension of State of Emergency Security & DefenceParliamentary ProcedureForeign Affairs Read →
  • 6 March 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala moved that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara take the Chair during the sitting. The motion was seconded, put to the House, and agreed to, after which the Deputy Chairperson of Committees left the Chair and Hon. Nanayakkara assumed it. Debate: Resolution on Public Security Ordinance - Extension of State of Emergency Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 February 2026 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala challenged claims made by the Opposition, alleging they were spreading falsehoods about a legal case filed at the Labour Tribunal. He acknowledged that the case did not succeed, but questioned why damages would have been paid if the case had been lost and asked for clarification on what was actually paid and where any such adverse judgment existed. Adjournment Motion: Issues Relating to the Power Sector (Coal Procurement for Norochcholai) Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 20 February 2026 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala rejected Opposition allegations regarding the coal tender, stating that the Government followed open tender procedures and the lowest evaluated bid principle, as with the gas tender. He argued that the motion contained incorrect figures on Lakvijaya’s coal requirement and said claims about money being sent to a Minister’s relative or a court finding against the Minister had not been substantiated with evidence. He maintained that any technical issues in the tender were being addressed, that liquidated damages would fall on the supplier, and that institutions such as CIABOC, the Attorney-General’s Department and the CID were acting independently and equally under the Government. Adjournment Motion: Issues Relating to the Power Sector (Coal Procurement for Norochcholai) Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceParliamentary Procedure Read →