Hon. Sunil Handunneththi MP
සුනිල් හඳුන්නෙත්ති சுனில் ஹந்துநெத்தி
Handunneththi in 2023
Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 November 2024
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Prime Minister	Harini Amarasuriya
Preceded by	Harini Amarasuriya
Member of Parliament forMatara District
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 November 2024
Majority	249,251 Preferential votes
Member of Parliament forNational List
In office 2015–2020
Member of Parliament forColombo District
In office 2001–2015
Personal details
Born	(1971-10-19)October 19, 1971 (age 53) Deniyaya, Matara, Sri Lanka
Political party	Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Other political affiliations	National People's Power
COPE Chairperson from 2015 to 2020

Sunil Handunneththi (Handunnetti; born October 19, 1971) is aSri Lankan politician and a member of theParliament of Sri Lanka who has served as theMinister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development since November 2024. A member of theNational People's Power andJanatha Vimukthi Peramuna, he was elected as aMember of Parliament forMatara Electoral District in2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.He formerly contested2010 parliamentary elections under theDemocratic National Alliance (DNA), which is led by former army chiefSarath Fonseka and was re-elected to Parliament fromColombo District.

Handunneththi was born on 19 October 1971 in Deniyaya,Matara, Sri Lanka. He attendedDharmasoka College in Ambalangoda and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from theUniversity of Sri Jayewardenepura.^[1]

Handunneththi entered politics by being a student in Sri Jayawardanapura University and became the Convener of theInter University Students' Federation in 1995 and continued until 1996. Was an activist in theSocialist Students Union and entered full-time politics in 1998 and was elected as a councilor of theColombo Municipal Council during 1998-1999. Handunnetti was elected to the Central Committee of theJVP 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 fromColombo District. In 2004 was appointed as the Deputy Minister ofMinistry of Rural Economic Affairs.

As the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi has initiated several key programs:

• Strengthening Domestic Industries and Reducing Reliance on Imports: In January 2025, Handunneththi announced plans to introduce environmentally friendly products rooted in green energy over the next two years. This initiative aims to promote sustainability and reduce dependence on imported energy sources.^[2]
• Encouraging Entrepreneurship and SME Growth: Handunneththi shared the government's plans to establish a state development bank dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This move is designed to provide financial assistance and foster entrepreneurial growth within the country.^[3]
• Advancing Industrial Policy Reforms: In January 2025, the government launched the "National Initiative for R&D Commercialization," aiming to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across various sectors. This program focuses on commercializing research and development to drive economic growth and social development.^[4]
• Promoting Youth Employment and Vocational Training: While specific programs under Handunneththi's ministry have not been detailed in the provided sources, the government's broader initiatives, such as the entrepreneur development scheme launched in the Eastern Province, indicate a commitment to fostering youth employment and skill development.^[5]

Additionally, in February 2025, Handunneththi met with India's Minister of State for Coal and Mines,Satish Chandra Dubey, to discuss bilateral cooperation in mineral exploration and mining. The discussions focused on securing critical minerals essential for both nations' economic and industrial growth.

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