Shanthi Eva Wanasundera PC (born January 1954) is a Sri Lankan judge and lawyer. She is a former puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Prior to her appointment as puisne justice, in 2012, she served as Solicitor General and Attorney General of Sri Lanka.[1]
Eva Wanasundera | |
|---|---|
| Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 7 July 2012 – 14 December 2018 | |
| 42nd Attorney General of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 1 September 2011 – 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Mohan Peiris |
| Succeeded by | Palitha Fernando |
| 41st Solicitor General of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 2011–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Priyasath Dep |
| Succeeded by | Palitha Fernando |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shanthi Eva Jayasena January 1954 (age 70) Kurunegala, North Western Province |
| Spouse | Indrajith |
| Children | Subodha |
| Alma mater | Sri Lanka Law College University of Leicester |
Shanthi Eva Wanasundera was born in Kurunegala to Hector Jayasena, a teacher from the south. Wansundera attended St. Thomas' Girls' High School, Matara and Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya where she was appointed the first female head prefect of the school. While at Dharmapala Vidyalaya she won the American Field Service Scholarship which allowed her to study in the United States at Canyon del Oro High School Tucson, Arizona spending a year as an exchange student. Upon her return she entered the Sri Lanka Law College. In 1995 she also obtained a master's degree in law from the University of Leicester.[2]
Wanasundera was called to the bar in 1997. She practiced at the Unofficial Bar for two years prior joining the Attorney General's Department.
She made history when she became the first woman senior state counsel, the first woman deputy solicitor general, the first woman additional solicitor general and the first woman Solicitor General and first ever woman Attorney General of Sri Lanka. Eva Wanasundera served as acting attorney general 16 times before her appointment as attorney general.[3] she represented Sri Lanka at key conferences abroad.[4]
On 7 July 2012 she was appointed as a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.[4] Wanasundera, being a senior member of the Supreme Court, has acted as chief justice in the absence of Chief Justice K. Sripavan.[5][6] She retired two months early from the Supreme Court on 14 December 2018.[7][8][9][10]
References
edit- ^ Boange, Dilshan. "Another 'Justice Wanasundera' for 'Apex Court'". Nation.lk. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ^ Malalasekera, Sarath. "Justice Wanasundera discharges duties with professionalism -AG". Dailynews.lk. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ^ Hettiarachchi, Dulan. "Shanthi Eva Wanasundera scales great heights". Sunday Observer.lk. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ^ a b Malalasekera, Sarath. "Eva Wanasundera, new Supreme Court judge". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Justice Eva Wanasundera taken oaths as acting Chief Justice". Asiantribune.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Sri Lanka appoints Eva Wanasundera as new acting CJ". Lanka Business Online. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Eva Wanasundera's Last Hurrah For The Rajapaksas: Controversial Judge To Hear Mahinda's Appeal Against Quo Warranto Stay Order On Friday". Colombo Telegraph. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "SC Justice Eva Wanasundera retires today". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "The Supreme Court commences the hearing of former President Mahinda's appeal". Hiru News. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Justice Aluwihare announces the retirement of Justice Ewa Wanasundara". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 14 December 2018.