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Wasantha Samarasinghe is a Sri Lankan politician, trade union leader, and activist, known for his prominent roles in student politics, parliamentary representation, and labor movement advocacy. He currently serves as the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, having assumed office on 18 November 2024 under the National People's Power (NPP) government.

Early Life and Education

Samarasinghe completed his Advanced Level studies at Thambuththegama Central College before entering the University of Kelaniya in 1996. He graduated with a special degree in Business Management Accounting.

Student Leadership

During his university years, Samarasinghe was a notable student leader. He served as:

• Chairman of the Kelaniya University Student Union
• A high-level leader in the Inter-University Student Power Council

Political Career

In 2004, Samarasinghe was elected to the Sri Lankan Parliament representing the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). During his tenure, he was an active member of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee. He also served as a member of the North Central Provincial Council.

In 2024, Samarasinghe was re-elected to Parliament, securing the highest number of preferential votes from the Anuradhapura District.

Trade Union Activism

Samarasinghe has been a prominent figure in Sri Lanka's trade union movement, holding key leadership positions:

• Chairman of the Inter-Company Employees' Union
• National Organizer at the National Trade Union Center

Anti-Corruption Work

He is the convener of the Anti-Corruption Voice Organization, focusing on exposing corruption in government administrations.

See Also

• 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election
• Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
• National People's Power
• Parliament of Sri Lanka

References

1. "Academics, Tamils and an extremist Sinhala nationalist". Tamil Guardian. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
2. "Wasantha Samarasinghe sworn in as Minister of Trade and Commerce". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
3. "Anuradhapura District Preferential Vote Results Released". Ada Derana. Retrieved 18 November 2024.

v t e ← Members of the 13th Parliament of Sri Lanka (2004 (2004)–2010) →
Speaker: W. J. M. Lokubandara Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa/Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Leader of the Opposition: Ranil Wickremesinghe
Central Province (24)	Kandy Dimuthu Bandara Abayakoon A. R. M. Abdul Cader Mahindananda Aluthgamage Sarath Amunugama Tissa Attanayake Y. M. Nawaratna Banda M. H. A. Haleem D. M. Jayaratne Lakshman Kiriella Faiszer Musthapha Udawatte Nanda Thero Keheliya Rambukwella Matale Sujatha Alahakoon Alick Aluwihare Nandimithra Ekanayake Ranjith Aluwihare Rohana Dissanayake Janaka Bandara Tennakoon Nuwara Eliya P. Chandrasekaran Santhanam Arulsamy S. B. Dissanayake Renuka Herath N. D. N. P. Jayasinghe S. Jegadhiswaran C. B. Rathnayake Muthu Sivalingam Arumugam Thondaman
North Central Province (13)	Anuradhapura S. M. Chandrasena Duminda Dissanayake W. B. Ekanayake P. Harrison Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe Tissa Karalliyadde K. D. Lalkantha R. P. A. Ranaweera Pathirana Polonnaruwa Siripala Gamalath Earl Gunasekara Maithripala Sirisena S. K. Subasinghe C. A. Suriyaarachchi
North Eastern Province (31)	Ampara Ferial Ashraff A. L. M. Athaullah P. Dayaratna Cassim Faizal Rauff Hakeem A. M. M. Naushad K. Pathmanathan Thomas Thangathurai William L. G. Wasantha Piyatissa Batticaloa S. Jeyanandamoorthy Thanmanpillai Kanagasabai Thangeswary Kathiraman Kingsley Rasanayagam P. Ariyanethiran Ameer Ali Shihabdeen Jaffna Douglas Devananda S. Kajendran Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam Suresh Premachandran Nadarajah Raviraj N. Srikantha Mavai Senathirajah M. K. Shivajilingam Pathmini Sithamparanathan K. Sivanesan Solomon Cyril Trincomalee M. N. Abdul Majeed R. Sampanthan K. Thurairetnasingam Jayantha Wijesekara Vanni Selvam Adaikalanathan Sivasakthy Ananthan Rishad Bathiudeen S. Kanagaratnam S. Kishore Vino Noharathalingam
North Western Province (24)	Kurunegala Indika Bandaranayake Bandula Basnayake Rohitha Bogollagama Anura Kumara Dissanayake Salinda Dissanayake T. B. Ekanayake Johnston Fernando Jayarathna Herath Dayasiri Jayasekara Akila Viraj Kariyawasam M. D. Namal Karunaratne S. B. Nawinne Gamini Jayawickrama Perera Bimal Rathnayaka Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake Anura Priyadharshana Yapa Puttalam Palitha Range Bandara D. M. Dassanayake Piyankara Jayaratne Weerakumara Dissanayake Milroy Fernando Samansiri Herath Larine Perera Neomal Perera Dayasritha Tissera
Sabaragamuwa Province (19)	Kegalle Kabir Hashim Maheepala Herath H. R. Mithrapala Anuruddha Polgampala Lalith Dissanayake Champika Premadasa R. M. Gamini Rathnayake Rukman Senanayake Athauda Seneviratne Ranjith Siyambalapitiya Mano Wijeyeratne Ratnapura Thalatha Atukorale Dunesh Gankanda Deepal Gunasekara Achala Jagodage Premalal Jayasekara Susantha Punchinilame Jayatissa Ranaweera Mahinda Ratnatilaka John Seneviratne Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi
Southern Province (25)	Galle Vajira Abeywardena Amarasiri Dodangoda Chandima Weerakkody Piyasena Gamage Gayantha Karunathilaka Ajith Kumara Hemakumara Nanayakkara Lionel Premasiri Gunaratna Weerakoon Chandrasena Wijesinghe Thilakaratne Withanachchi Hambantota Mahinda Amaraweera Nihal Galappaththi Sajith Premadasa Chamal Rajapaksa Mahinda Rajapaksa Nirupama Rajapaksa Vijitha Ranaweera Dilip Wedaarachchi Matara Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena Chandrasiri Gajadeera Jinadasa Kitulagoda Pemasiri Manage Sagala Ratnayaka Mangala Samaraweera Mahinda Wijesekara
Uva Province (13)	Badulla Nimal Siripala de Silva W. J. M. Lokubandara Dilan Perera Ravindra Samaraweera M. Satchithanandan Lakshman Senewiratne Vadivel Suresh Samantha Vidyaratna Monaragala Dharmadasa Banda R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara R. M. Padma Udhaya Shantha Gunasekera Sumedha G. Jayasena A. P. Jagath Pushpakumara
Western Province (47)	Colombo Kotapola Amarakitti Thero Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi Uduwe Dhammaloka A. H. M. Fowzie Mano Ganesan Bandula Gunawardane Dinesh Gunawardena Sunil Handunnetti Ravi Karunanayake Jeewan Kumaranatunga Gamini Lokuge T. Maheswaran Mohamed Rajabdeen Mohamed Mahroof M. H. Mohamed Milinda Moragoda Susil Premajayantha Arjuna Ranatunga Kathaluwe Rathanaseeha Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero Wimal Weerawansa Ranil Wickremesinghe Gampaha Lasantha Alagiyawanna Siripala Amarasinghe Sarath Kumara Gunaratna John Amaratunga Anura Bandaranaike Sarana Gunawardena Pandu Bandaranaike Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Duleep Wijesekera Edward Gunasekara Vijitha Herath Karu Jayasuriya Jayalath Jayawardena Felix Perera Joseph Michael Perera Aparekke Punnananda Thero Sarathchandra Rajakaruna Sripathi Sooriyarachchi Reggie Ranatunga Neil Rupasinghe Kolonnawe Sri Sumangala Thero Alawwe Nandaloka Thero A. R. Anjan Umma Kalutara Rohitha Abeygunawardena Reginald Cooray Nirmala Kotalawala Nandana Gunathilake Sarath Ranawaka Ananda Lakshman Wijemanna Athuraliye Rathana Thero Mahinda Samarasinghe S. A. Jayantha Samaraweera Rajitha Senaratne Kumara Welgama Piyasiri Wijenayake
National List (29)	JHU Ellawala Medhananda Thero Omalpe Sobhitha Champika Ranawaka SLMC Hasen Ali TNA M. K. Eelaventhan Raseen Mohammed Imam Joseph Pararajasingham C. Chandrakanthan UNF Hussein Ahamed Bhaila K. N. Choksy Basheer Segu Dawood Rauff Hakeem Navin Dissanayake Abdul Baiz Kamardeen Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana M. Mohamed Musthaffa G. L. Peiris W. P. S. Pushpakumara V. Puththirasigamoney Ismail Mohammed Quddus S. Nijamudeen P. Radhakrishnan M. S. Sellasamy UPFA Ramalingam Chandrasekar D. E. W. Gunasekera Gitanjana Gunawardena M. H. Cegu Isadean Mohamed Ismail Anwar Ismail Basil Rajapaksa Lakshman Kadirgamar Dullas Alahapperuma J. A. Mary Lucida Mervyn Silva Janadasa Peiris Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Wasantha Samarasinghe V. Muralitharan Philipps Sri Liyanage Mohamed Mussammil Tissa Vitharana Wiswa Warnapala E. A. D. C. Weerasekera Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

v t e ← Members of the 17th Parliament of Sri Lanka (2024 (2024)–present (present))
Speaker: Asoka Ranwala/Jagath Wickramaratne Prime Minister: Harini Amarasuriya Leader of the Opposition: Sajith Premadasa
Central (25)	Kandy (12) E. M. Basnayaka Thanura Dissanayake Prasanna Gunasena Riyaz Faruk Rauff Hakeem Anuradha Jayaratne Thushari Jayasinghe Chamindrani Kiriella K. D. Lalkantha Jagath Manuwarna Mohomed Pasmin Hansaka Wijemuni Matale (5) Sunil Biyanvila Gamagedara Dissanayake Dinesh Hemantha Perera Deepthi Wasalage Rohini Kumari Wijerathna Nuwara Eliya (8) Manjula Suraweera Arachchi Palani Digambaran Krishnan Kaleichelvi Velusami Radhakrishnan Madhura Senevirathna Anushka Thilakarathne Jeevan Thondaman R. G. Wijerathna
Eastern (16)	Ampara (7) K. Kodeeswaran Wasantha Piyathissa Muthumenike Rathwatte Manjula Ratnayake M. M. Thahir Meerasahibu Uthumalebbe Priyantha Wijeratne Batticaloa (5) M. L. A. M. Hizbullah Kandasami Prabhu Shanakiyan Rasamanickam Ilaiyathambi Srinath G. Sirinesan Trincomalee (4) Roshan Akmeemana Arun Hemachandra Shanmugam Kugathasan Imran Maharoof
Northern (12)	Jaffna (6) Ramanathan Archchuna Karunananthan Ilankumaran Rajeewan Jayachandramurthy Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam Sri Bhavanandaraja Shanmuganathan S. Shritharan Vanni (6) Selvam Adaikalanathan Rishad Bathiudeen Arumugam Jegadishwaran K. Kader Masthan T. Raviharan Selvathambi Thilakanathan
North Central (14)	Anuradhapura (9) Rohana Bandara Bhagya Sri Herath Susantha Kumara Sena Nanayakkara P. D. N. K. Palihena Susil Ranasinghe Suranga Rathnayaka Thilina Samarakoon Wasantha Samarasinghe Polonnaruwa (5) Pathmasiri Bandara Kins Nelson Sunil Rathnasiri T. B. Sarath Jagath Wickramaratne
North Western (23)	Kurunegala (15) J. C. Alawathuwala Mahammadu Aslam Nalin Bandara Wijesiri Basnayake Dharmapriya Dissanayake Sujeeva Dissanayake Ashoka Gunasena Jagath Gunawardena Geetha Herath Dayasiri Jayasekara M. D. Namal Karunaratne Namal Sudarshana G. D. Suriyabandara Chandana Tennakoon Ananda Wijepala Puttalam (8) Chandana Abayarathna Hector Appuhamy Janath Chithral Fernando Mohamed Faisal Ajith Gihan Gayan Janaka Anton Jayakody Hiruni Wijesinghe
Sabaragamuwa (20)	Kegalle (9) Sagarika Athauda Nanda Bandara Kosala Jayaweera Kabir Hashim Nandana Millagala Dammika Patabendi Sujith Sanjaya Perera Manoj Rajapaksha Kanchana Welipitiya Ratnapura (11) Basooriyage Ariyawansa Nilusha Gamage Upul Kithsiri Waruna Priyantha Liyanage Shantha Padmakumara S. Pradeep Wasantha Pushpakumara Sunil Rajapaksha Janaka Senarathna Hiniduma Sunil Senevi Hesha Withanage
Southern (25)	Galle (9) Rathna Gamage Nalin Hewage T. K. Jayasundara Gayantha Karunathilaka Nishantha Perera Nayanathara Premathilake Thilanka Rukmal Nishantha Samaraweera Chanaka Sampath Hambantota (7) D. V. Chanaka Nihal Galappaththi Athula Hewage Saliya Madarasinghe Prabha Senarath Aravinda Vitharana Dilip Wedaarachchi Matara (7) L. M. Abeywickrama Gammaddage Ajantha Chathura Galappaththi Sunil Handunnetti Akram Ilyas Saroja Savithri Paulraj Lal Premanath
Uva (13)	Badulla (9) Sudath Balagalla Raveendra Bandara Chamara Sampath Dassanayake Dinindu Hennayake Ambika Samuel Kitnan Selvaraj Samantha Vidyaratna Nayana Wasalathilake Chaminda Wijesiri Monaragala (6) H. M. Dharmasena R. M. Jayawardena Chathuri Gangani Sarath Kumara Ajith Priyadarshana Ruwan Wijeweera
Western (48)	Colombo (18) Chathuranga Abeysinghe Harini Amarasuriya Kaushalya Ariyarathne Harsha de Silva Susantha Dodawatta Eranga Gunasekara Samanmalee Gunasinghe S. M. Marikkar Harshana Nanayakkara Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi Asitha Niroshana Aruna Panagoda Sajith Premadasa Mujibur Rahman Rizvie Salih Chandana Sooriyaarachchi Dewananda Suraweera Sunil Watagala Gampaha (19) Chrishantha Abeysena Upali Abeywickrama Lasith Bashana Stephani Fernando Vijitha Herath Champika Hettiarachchi Ruwanthilake Jayakodi Anil Jayantha Mahinda Jayasinghe Kavinda Jayawardena Chaminda Lalith Kumara Prageeth Maduranga Ruwan Mapalagama Muneer Mulaffer Amila Prasad Harshana Rajakaruna Asoka Ranwala Hemali Weerasekara Dharmappriya Wijesinghe Kalutara (11) Rohitha Abeygunawardena Nihal Abeysinghe Chandima Hettiaratchi Nalinda Jayatissa Nilanthi Kottahachchi Nandana Padmakumara Ajith Perera Sanjeewa Ranasinghe Dhanushka Ranganath Oshani Umanga Jagath Vithana
National List (29)	NPP (18) Abubakar Adambawa Ramalingam Chandrasekar Sugath Wasantha de Silva Sunil Kumara Gamage Lakmali Hemachandra Najith Indika Punya Jayakody Aruna Jayasekara Anura Karunathilake Janitha Kodithuwakku Upali Pannilage Ruwan Ranasinghe Bimal Rathnayake Gamini Rathnayake Upali Samarasinghe Harshana Sooriyapperuma Sugath Thilakaratne Eranga Weeraratne SJB (5) Mano Ganesan Muhammedu Ismail Nizam Kariapper Ranjith Madduma Bandara Sujeewa Senasinghe NDF (2) Ravi Karunanayake Faiszer Musthapha SLPP (1) Namal Rajapaksa ITAK (1) P. Sathiyalingam SB (1) Dilith Jayaweera SLMC (1) M. S. Naleem

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