Shanakiyan is a member of the Sri Lankan Parliament by the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi since 2020.
He received his education from Trinity College – Kandy, and is a graduate of the University of Southern Queensland (Australia) where he received a Bachelor’s degree in commerce. Currently, he is completing his final year of the LLB programme from IDM campus in Sri Lanka
As an elected parliamentarian from the Batticaloa district of Sri Lanka, he is deeply committed to protecting and upholding the rights of his community and all Sri Lankans.
He is also a member of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Committee, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Consultative Committee, the Back-Benchers Committee, and the Speakers Panel.
On Youth Political Participation
“I joined politics because I had a genuine passion to see development in the issues that our people face in our districts. Youngsters need to be at the point where laws are enacted because it is our lives that are going to be affected.”
The WYDE Civic Engagement Network of Young Decision-Makers unites young leaders under 36 years old who are active in politics and decision-making roles, aiming to enhance youth political participation. Members, hailing from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, will collaborate with peers and Club de Madrid Members to shape global agendas through Policy Labs, fostering informed collective action.
The WYDE Civic Engagement project is a component of the Women and Youth in Democracy Initiative (WYDE) by the European Commission. The project aims to empower youth voices, foster international cooperation, and address the gaps in evidence on youth political engagement. More info on the project can be found on EPD’s website.
