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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
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister questioned how an order to arrest and produce individuals could be issued when they had not been named as suspects, urging that Parliament not be misled on the matter. He also referred to comments made by Subhashini Yoganadan at a London summit calling for women’s unity, suggesting that this had provoked criticism from another group. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Justice & Human RightsParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Sunil Watagala stated that time had been extended until the conclusion of business and responded to an allegation regarding a judge’s transfer. He said the matter cited by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara related to a 2024 order, before the current Government was in power, and that in 2025 there had been no order to arrest and produce anyone, only an order to record statements, which had been complied with. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary ProcedureJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister clarified that the documents and court actions referred to by another Member related to different periods and judicial officers at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court. He stated that orders made in 2024 predated the current Government, while the 2025 controversy concerned Magistrate Chathurika de Silva and did not involve an order to arrest and produce Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe or Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe. He said only directions were issued for them to give statements, and argued that the Member had conflated events from 2024 and 2025. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala objected that access to an unspecified matter or document was being unfairly restricted. He briefly asserted that Members should be able to access it before yielding. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the Penal Code amendments to Sections 308, 314 and 316, stating that they raise age limits and penalties to strengthen child protection. He rejected a proposed amendment to add “good faith,” arguing that Section 74 of the Penal Code already gives that term general application. Responding to allegations about judicial independence, he said discussion of Judicial Service Commission decisions and interference with the judiciary are restricted by Articles 111 and 111C, and maintained that judicial transfers and promotions are handled by the JSC without political involvement. He also noted that a document referred to in relation to Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe and Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe had not yet reached him. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Law & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala requested Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara to provide the document he had tabled in Parliament. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala raised a point of order objecting to another Member repeatedly referring to an alleged “NPP tuition teacher” in relation to an incident under investigation. He stated that a B-report had been filed, the case was pending before Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court No. 6, and the matter had been referred to the Attorney General for advice under Section 308 of the Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 1995 and Section 33 of the Evidence Ordinance. He argued that making political allegations while legal advice was still pending set a wrong precedent. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 24 September 2025 AI summary Pointing to Penal Code Section 74 and Article 11 of the Constitution, Sunil Watagala argued that existing law already protects good-faith acts done to prevent harm while prohibiting torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. He therefore opposed Ajith P. Perera’s proposed insertion of the term “bona fide” in the Bill, stating that further specification of bona fide or mala fide intent was unnecessary. Debate: Penal Code (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 10 September 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala referred to a reported letter of demand from Namal Rajapaksa and said he would contest any defamation action, raising questions he said he would pursue in cross-examination. Turning to the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, he argued that Act No. 4 of 1986 created benefits for former Presidents and widows beyond what the Constitution protected and that these entitlements had been abused through official residences and state property. Citing a recent Supreme Court judgment, he said only salary, allowances and pension are constitutionally protected, and supported the repeal as restoring equality before the law. Debate: Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading Parliamentary ProcedureJustice & Human RightsPublic Finance Read →
  • 9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala rejected an implication that he or the Government was responsible for a grant of bail, stating that bail is a decision of the court. He emphasized that a Magistrate has authority to grant bail even on weekends and urged others to understand court procedure before making claims. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (Continued) Justice & Human Rights Read →
  • 9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala responded to criticism regarding bail granted on a weekend, stating that Magistrates’ Courts can sit on Saturdays and that Magistrates may grant bail even on Saturdays or Sundays, including in cases involving a hospitalized person. He emphasized that bail is granted by the court, not by the Government or Members of Parliament, and urged Members to understand court procedure before raising such claims. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (Continued) Justice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
  • 9 September 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala raised a point of Order responding to Hon. Kabir Hashim’s claim about the Pottuvil incident, stating that the Government did not intervene because the matter was handled by the Police and the Courts. He said the woman involved was arrested on 28 August, produced before the Pottuvil Magistrate on 29 August under Section 314 of the Penal Code, and that a charge sheet was filed under a subsequent case number. He added that the parties reached a Rs. 70,000 settlement and the case had concluded, arguing that independent institutions had acted and that the House should not be misled. Debate: Agreement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (Continued) Law & OrderParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 22 August 2025 AI summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala argued that human rights require equal application of the law and stronger independence among the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, criticizing past abuses of power including executive overreach, pressure on MPs, and attacks on judicial independence. He said the National People’s Power Government is acting on its mandate by ending preferential treatment for the powerful and pursuing reforms such as repealing the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986, and abolishing parliamentary pensions. He framed these measures as part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional independence and access to justice. Adjournment Motion: Human Rights Issues Faced by the Tamil Community in the North, East and Hill Country Justice & Human RightsCorruption & Governance ReformParliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 5 August 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala criticized remarks by Hon. Namal Rajapaksa in Beruwala, alleging that past incidents such as the violence in Dharga Town and attacks on a Provincial Councillor’s farm reflected the fomenting of racism. He said the NPP would oppose falsehoods and narrow racist politics, asserting that such politics should not be allowed to derail the country. Debate: Resolution to Remove Inspector-General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon Corruption & Governance ReformEthnic Reconciliation & Devolution Read →
  • 5 August 2025 AI summary The Deputy Minister supported the removal proceedings against IGP Deshbandu Tennakoon under the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, arguing that the holder of the office must meet a high standard given the Police’s role in law and order. He cited Supreme Court guidance in the Express Pearl case on public officers’ duties, discretion and accountability, and referred to findings against officials as examples relevant to police leadership. He rejected objections based on Standing Order 91(1) and sub judice, contrasting the present procedure with the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, and said the NPP had previously pursued legal and public action on related concerns. He also referred to SC (FR) 107/2011, in which Deshbandu Tennakoon was fined Rs. 5 million, as further evidence supporting the case for removal. Debate: Resolution to Remove Inspector-General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon Parliamentary ProcedureLaw & OrderJustice & Human Rights Read →
  • 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala argued that the debate and Motion should not undermine ongoing CID investigations and judicial proceedings relating to the Easter Sunday attacks, noting that fresh facts reports had been filed in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. He said the victims’ concerns are already before courts, cited Supreme Court fundamental rights case SCFR 191/19 in which he was involved, and emphasized that compensation orders and requests for intelligence-related information reflect the victims’ aspirations. He criticized the Motion for focusing on reports, bail for Pillayan, Sara Jasmin’s DNA evidence, international assistance, and missing weapons, saying these issues were disconnected from the central judicial process, and also requested correction of the wording from “Easter attack” to “Easter Sunday attack.” Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary ProcedureJustice & Human RightsLaw & Order Read →
  • 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala briefly commented that the opposing side appeared to be acting in a coordinated manner. The remark was procedural and did not raise a substantive policy issue, proposal, or demand. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 9 July 2025 AI summary Sunil Watagala responded to a point raised by Hon. Chanaka concerning a Presidential Commission report, alleging that the answer given was knowingly incorrect. He clarified that the report was delivered under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, not Ranil Wickremesinghe. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Corruption & Governance Reform Read →
  • 9 July 2025 AI summary Hon. Sunil Watagala raised a Point of Order denying a social media claim quoted by Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara that allegedly linked him to a statement about the Dalada Perahera. He asserted that he had never made such a statement, urged Members to act responsibly in the House, and demanded that any claim attributing the remark to him be supported with a link. Adjournment Debate: Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks (21 April 2019) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
  • 20 June 2025 AI summary The member requested that a separate parliamentary debate be scheduled on the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. He noted that the subject Minister had also raised the matter and asked the Presiding Member to allocate time for such a debate. Debate: Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act Order and Imports and Exports (Control) Act Regulations Parliamentary Procedure Read →