MANGALESWARY SHANKER

Manikkapody Mangaleswary Shanker (Mangala) was born in Batticaloa, the Eastern part of Sri Lanka, on the 01 st of February 1973. She is an Attorney-at-Law with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Colombo and possesses over 21 years of working experience in the legal profession. In addition to that, she works as a visiting lecturer at the Legal Department of the Open University of Sri Lanka. She is the first female lawyer in her divisional Secretariat division. And a recipient of a rights-based activism award.
Mangala received her primary education at Munaikkadu Methodist School (now Munaikkadu Vivehanada Vidyalaya), continued her education at Muthalaikuda Maha Vidyalaya, and finished her secondary education at Bt/St. Cecilia National School.
Mangala entered the political arena at the request of the former Chief Minister of Eastern Province, Hon. Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, the leader of the TMVP party and contested the parliamentary election 2020 and secured third rank in the preferential votes.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

The last position was held as Legal Manager at the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre of Transparency International Sri Lanka from 2017 to 2020.

From 1 February 2011 to 31 May 2017, Served ay Centre for Human Rights and Development's Chief Executive Officer.

Part-time Lecturer at the Legal Department, Open University of Sri Lanka since 2010.

Worked as a programme officer at Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust from 1 st October 2007 to 31 st January, 2011.

Worked as a Project Coordinator for Special Programmes and Prabodhini Project,–North East, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka from 17 th November 2003 till 30 th September 2007.

orked as a Legal Officer at the Suriya Women’s Development Centre, Batticaloa, responsible for the Legal Aid programme from June 2000 to December 2001.

As a Junior Counsel, I reported to a Senior Lawyer and an Acting Magistrate. Mr. K. Thankavadivel JPUM from 2000 to

    PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE / VISITS  

In 2012, took part in the Legislative Fellowship program, which was organized by the US State Department.

In 2011 and 2012, attended a training on "Women's Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights" organized by PWESCR (Delhi) in Nepal.

In 2010, attended a month-long training course in Nepal led by SANGAT (Delhi) on gender, human rights, peace, and development.

Caritas France organized an exposure visit to Women for Peace in Paris in May 2005.

The Conference on Women Waging Peace in Boston, USA was organized by Harward University, from 4th -18th November 2000.