Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney at Law, M.P.
Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs
Profession: Attorney-at-Law
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- 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala said the Trincomalee incident had been reported by the Police to the Magistrate’s Court under Section 106 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and argued that Parliament should not debate a matter now before court. He warned that discussion of related incidents, including one in Dehiwala involving a Buddha statue, was being used to create racial and religious tension, and requested the Chair to intervene and stop the debate. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Religion & CultureParliamentary ProcedureJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala invoked Standing Order 91(e) during the sitting. The excerpt contains only this procedural reference and does not include any substantive argument, proposal, or question. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala clarified that his prior remark was not directed at the person being addressed, but at Namal. No substantive policy issue or legislative matter was raised in this brief intervention. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala responded to statements about the Trincomalee incident, stating that the Police had acted and reported matters to the Magistrate’s Court under Section 106 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, making it a judicial matter rather than one involving political interference. He rejected claims that the Government was acting on a religious or nationalist basis or disregarding Buddhism, and urged the Opposition not to frame the incident as a communal or religious issue. He also asserted that the Government had maintained judicial independence. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Religion & CultureJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala objected to the raising of a Point of Order immediately after a member’s name was called. He asked the member to sit down and questioned the procedural basis for allowing Points of Order at that stage. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 17 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala defended the independence of the judiciary under the current Government, arguing that the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are now functioning separately under a proper system of checks and balances. He rejected Opposition allegations of political interference in judicial transfers, stating that such matters fall within the independent Judicial Service Commission under Article 111J and not the Government. He also criticised past administrations for alleged interference with the judiciary and proposed considering amendments to Standing Orders to prevent statements protected by parliamentary privilege that could amount to offences if made outside Parliament. Debate - Appropriation Bill 2026 Committee Stage Continuation (Foreign Affairs, Justice and National Integration) Justice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 15 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala clarified that the Government had not acted improperly regarding former High Court Judge Ilanchezian’s service extension. He stated that extensions require recommendations from the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Justice, and that no such recommendations had been received when the judge reached retirement age. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 15 November 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala responded to Hon. Ajith P. Perera’s comments on the Ombudsman and the Human Rights Commission, noting that these bodies do not exercise judicial power and that the Government supports making them more efficient. He rejected any implication that the implementation of Ombudsman recommendations weakened after the current Government took office, while accepting the broader need for institutional improvement. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Corruption & Governance ReformJustice & Human Rights Read →
- 15 November 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala’s intervention contains only a formal address to the Chair and no substantive remarks, proposals, questions, or policy positions are recorded in the provided text. Debate: Committee Stage - Appropriation Bill 2026, Special Spending Units (Heads 1, 2, 4-11, 13, 16-25) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 13 November 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister stated that the Budget gives particular consideration to vulnerable groups. He framed this as a key feature of the Budget’s policy focus. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Public Finance Read →
- 13 November 2025 AI summary Proposed that Hon. Sagarika Athauda take the Chair as Presiding Member. Debate: Appropriation Bill 2026 - Second Reading (Fifth Allotted Day) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 November 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister defended the Budget as people-centred and argued that improved public finance management and restraint by rulers enabled relief for the public. He rejected Opposition criticism on the rule of law, citing arrests in the Lasantha Wickrematunge murder investigation and non-interference in police work, and said the e-visa issue is before the Supreme Court with future action to follow legal outcomes and the Auditor General’s recommendations. He also highlighted the Rs. 1,500 million allocation for the “The Whole Nation Together” anti-drug programme and requested Opposition cooperation through district, divisional and village-level structures. Second Reading Debate: Appropriation Bill, 2026 Justice & Human RightsPublic FinanceLaw & Order Read →
- 10 October 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala opposed the Opposition motion, arguing that delegation of police transfer powers by the National Police Commission through Gazette notification would be constitutional under Article 155G(2). He said affected officers already have appeal mechanisms through the NPC, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and fundamental rights jurisdiction, and defended the need for IGP discretion in deploying officers for operations against drugs and organized crime. He rejected newspaper-based allegations and crime claims as unproven, contending that the motion sought to pressure independent bodies such as the NPC, CIABOC and CID and lacked any identified illegality. Adjournment: Motion on Independence of National Police Commission (SO 19(2)) Law & OrderCorruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 October 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala stated that the question raised covers matters beyond the Public Security Ministry, including areas under the Justice and Defence Ministries. He requested two weeks to coordinate and provide comprehensive answers. Second Round Questions and Standing Order 27(2) Questions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 7 October 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala supported the Anti-Doping Amendment, stating that it updates the 2013 framework to align with international conventions and WADA requirements while meeting domestic needs. He rejected Opposition criticisms, including claims about legal wording affecting children and allegations against Deputy Minister Geetha Jayasinghe and Minister W. A. Samarasinghe, citing a court order that declined to name them as suspects. He also referred to ongoing investigations into the Wasim Thajudeen murder, alleged false claims by former party associates, a reported sale of a parliamentary seat, and the container matter, urging that inquiries proceed without interference. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading Parliamentary ProcedureLaw & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Read →
- 7 October 2025 AI summary A petition was presented on behalf of Mr. M.H.G. Perera and fourteen others residing at Sisil Uyana, Atawila Road, Kalutara South. The matter was raised under the petitions segment of parliamentary proceedings. Petitions Presented Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister criticized a member for confusing the Magistrate’s Court with the District Court. He argued that the two courts should be clearly distinguished in the discussion. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Justice & Human Rights Read →
- 24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala challenged a Member’s statement, alleging that the Member had misled the House by referring to an event from 2024 as if it occurred in September 2025. He argued that this was contrary to Standing Orders and called for the Member to acknowledge the error. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister rejected the claim raised as a point of order, stating that no valid point of order existed. He accused the member of misleading the House by conflating 2024 and 2025, asserting that the issue referred to applied to 2024 and that no such order existed in 2025. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 24 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister contrasted earlier political divisions between the Senanayake and Bandaranaike camps with the present situation, arguing that the NPP represents the people’s camp. He claimed rival groups associated with Sirikotha had failed to attract public support, citing the Colombo Municipal election defeat, and characterised their recent activities as a reaction to that loss. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Corruption & Governance Reform Read →