MP Sugath Wasantha Honored with Commonwealth Parliamentary Award
National People’s Power (NPP) Member of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva has been awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) New Parliamentarian Award 2026.
The award recognizes his outstanding commitment to parliamentary process, inclusive governance, human rights, and exemplary service to democratic participation.
Organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) under its “Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year” awards, Sugath Wasantha de Silva’s nomination was submitted by the Sri Lanka country office of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
The nomination was presented to the CPA Headquarters Secretariat in London on July 08, 2026.
Sugath Wasantha de Silva is the first visually impaired Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka’s history. As Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, he has provided remarkable leadership in advocating for disability rights, official recognition of sign language, accessibility standards, and statutory reforms.
notably, he took the lead in ensuring state sector accountability by conducting reviews with nearly 25 ministries regarding the implementation of budget allocations dedicated to persons with disabilities under the 2026 National Budget.
Receiving his primary education at Kandegoda Junior School and Watugedara Siri Abeythissa Junior School in Ambalangoda, Sugath Wasantha de Silva enrolled in the School for the Blind in Ratmalana following the onset of his visual impairment, where he learned Braille and received specialized education.
He subsequently pursued his Advanced Level studies at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda, and gained admission to the University of Colombo, graduating with a First-Class Honors Special Degree in History.
The award was officially presented to MP Sugath Wasantha at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held on September 17 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Deputy Minister of Mass Media Attorney-at-Law Kaushalya Ariyarathne, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development Upali Samarasinghe, Kegalle District MP Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athawuda, and Jaffna District MP Iran Kumaran also attended the event organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
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