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Sunil Watagala

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Sunil Watagala
සුනිල් වටගල
சுனில் வடகல
Member of Parliament
for Colombo District
Assumed office
21 November 2024
Majority125,700 Preferential votes
Personal details
NationalitySri Lanka
Political partyNational People's Power
Alma materFaculty of Law, University of Colombo
OccupationAttorney-at-law, Politician
ProfessionAttorney-at-law

Sunil Watagala is a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka from Colombo Electoral District since 2024 as a member of the National People's Power.[1] In the newly formed government, he serves as the Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, contributing to key aspects of governance and Public security.

In addition to his political career, Watagala is a qualified Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. With a background in law, he has been actively involved in promoting human rights, social equity, and legal empowerment as both a legal professional and a public servant.

Early life and education

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Sunil Watagala was born on December 16, 1967. He pursued his primary and secondary education at C.W.W. Kannangara Central College, Mathugama, where he developed an early interest in law and social justice.

He later attended the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree in 1994. Following his undergraduate studies, Watagala continued to hone his legal expertise at the Sri Lanka Law College, where he completed his legal training and qualified as an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 1996.[tone]

Throughout his academic journey, he demonstrated a keen interest in issues related to human rights, social equity, and legal empowerment, shaping the foundation for his later career as a legal professional and public servant.[tone]

Political career

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Political Career began in 1983 by joining the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) during Advanced Level studies. In 1994, he contested for Parliament representing the Kalutara District.

After taking oaths as an Attorney-at-Law in 1996, the focus turned to legal advocacy, representing the party in various legal matters and handling numerous high-profile fundamental rights cases, driven by a steadfast commitment to justice and public service.[2]

Engagement in public service continued through roles in the Colombo Municipal Council and the Western Provincial Council[3] Representing JVP.

In the 2024 Sri Lanka General election, Watagala contested for Parliament from the Colombo District representing National People's Power and was elected in November 2024. Subsequently, on November 21, 2024, sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs.[4]

Electoral history

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Electoral history of
Election Constituency Party Aliiance Votes Result Ref
2004 provincial council Colombo District Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna United People's Freedom Alliance 31,836 Elected [5]
2014 provincial council Colombo District Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 8,380 Elected [6]
2015 parliamentary Colombo District Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 12,332 Not elected [7]
2020 parliamentary Colombo District Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna National People's Power 7,392 Not elected [2]
2024 parliamentary Colombo District Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna National People's Power 125,700 Elected [8]

References

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  1. ^ "The Gazette Extraordinary – No.2410/07 – Friday, November 15, 2024 – Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981" (PDF). Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 15 November 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Sunil Watagala". www.linkedin.com.[non-primary source needed]
  3. ^ "Get to know new faces of the 10th parliament".
  4. ^ "New Deputy Ministers Appointed". english.newsfirst.lk.
  5. ^ "Results of Provincial Council Elections 2004" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) ó GENERAL Government Notifications PROVINCIAL COUNCILS ELECTIONS ACT, No. 2 OF 1988 Western Province Provincial Council" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1856/09. 1 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ "List of candidates and preferential votes in Sri Lanka 2024 election". EconomyNext. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.