AG Wanasundara sworn in as a Supreme Court Judge

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma
(Pix by: Sudath Silva)

Attorney General Mrs. Shanthi Eva Wanasundara was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees today on 05 July. Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga, representatives from armed forces and family members of Mrs Wanasundera were present at the occasion.

Shanthi Eva Wanasundera, PC is the 26th Attorney General of Sri Lanka. Her appointment as AG on 12 September 2011, cemented a remarkable milestone in the history of the Judiciary of Sri Lanka becoming the first woman Attorney General of Sri Lanka. She succeeded her predecessor Mohan Peiris -PC.

Shanthi Eva Wanasundera was born in Kurunegala. Beginning her primary education at St. Thomas Girl’s College in Matara, she was compelled to change schools on account of her father’s transferrable profession of teaching. Her father Hector Jayasena was a reputed teacher. She was fortunate to win a scholarship to study in USA while she was at Dharmapala, College, Pannipitiya. Ending her studies in Sri Lanka she left to USA for higher studies under the scholarship at Canyon del Oro High School Tucson, Arizona, USA.

On completion of her studies she returned to Sri Lanka and entered Law College in early 1970s. She debuted as an Attorney-at-Law at the Gangodawila Magistrate Court (Nugegoda) followed by the District Courts in Mt.Lavinia and Colombo. She joined the Attorney General’s Department in 1979 as a State Counselor. Subsequently she served as the Senior State Counselor, Deputy Solicitor General, Additional Solicitor General and Solicitor General.

It is a spectacular scenario of ascendance to higher rank as the first woman Senior State Counselor, first woman Deputy Solicitor General, first woman Additional Solicitor General and the first woman Solicitor General of Sri Lanka in her resplendent career of this noble legal profession. Eva also served as the Acting Attorney General 16 times.

She is also master degree holder of Law at the University of Leicester, UK. Being a professional and senior official of Attorney General Office, she represented Sri Lanka in key conferences overseas keeping Sri Lanka flag high.

Shanthi Eva Wanasundera, PC is married to Indrajith Wanasundera, a well renowned businessman in Ratnapura.