Sri Lankan Parliamentarian Sugath Wasantha de Silva has received the 2026 Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) New Parliamentarian Award in recognition of his contribution to inclusive parliamentary democracy and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.
The award was presented on 17 September at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. De Silva, Sri Lanka’s first-ever blind Member of Parliament, has served as Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities and has worked on disability rights, accessibility and inclusive governance.
His nomination was submitted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) – Sri Lanka.
