Sunil Handunnetti

Sunil Handunneththi (Handunnetti; born October 19, 1971) is a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka who has served as the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development since November 2024. A member of the National People's Power and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Matara Electoral District in 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. He formerly contested 2010 parliamentary elections under the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), which is led by former army chief Sarath Fonseka and was re-elected to Parliament from Colombo District.

Early life and education Handunneththi was born on 19 October 1971 in Deniyaya, Matara, Sri Lanka. He attended Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Political career

Handunneththi entered politics by being a student in Sri Jayawardanapura University and became the Convener of the Inter University Students' Federation in 1995 and continued until 1996. Was an activist in the Socialist Students Union and entered full-time politics in 1998 and was elected as a councilor of the Colombo Municipal Council during 1998-1999. Handunnetti was elected to the Central Committee of the JVP in 2000 and was appointed to the Political Bureau of the JVP in 2012 and was appointed as the Financial Secretary of the JVP. Elected to Parliament at the general election held in 2004 with the second highest number of preferential votes from Colombo District. In 2004 was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Rural Economic Affairs.

Electoral history ElectionConstituencyPartyAllianceVotesResult1999 provincialColombo DistrictJVP6352000 parliamentaryColombo DistrictJVP2001 parliamentaryColombo DistrictJVP9,4382004 parliamentaryColombo DistrictJVPUPFA152,9422010 parliamentaryColombo DistrictJVPDNA78,1262015 parliamentaryMatara DistrictJVP35,2702020 parliamentaryMatara DistrictJVPNPP37,1362024 parliamentary Matara DistrictJVPNPP249,251