Suveen Sanis Walgampola
Suveen Sanis Walgampola | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | Green |
| Website | https://www.greens.org.nz/suveen_sanis_walgampola_2023 |
Suveen Sanis Walgampola is a community advocate and co-founder of Duality, an organisation for Sri Lankan youths in New Zealand. He is also a member of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and was the candidate for the Mount Roskill electorate in the 2023 elections.[1]
Biography
[edit]Walgampola was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and is Sinhalese.[2] He moved to New Zealand at the age of two.[3] Growing up in Auckland, he attended Auckland Grammar School from 2004-2009, then Massey University from 2010-2014 where he studied a Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com.), Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law.[4][5] In 2016 Walgampola completed a Graduate Diploma in Commerce, Operations, and Supply Chain Management from the University of Auckland.[4]
Walgampola is the co-founder of Duality, an organisation for Sri Lankan youths in New Zealand.[3] In supporting the Sri Lankan diasporic community in Aotearoa New Zealand, Walgampola aims to foster support for identity formation and success among the community.[3][5][2] Duality organises community engagement projects, mentorship programmes and knowledge and story sharing opportunities.[3]
In 2020 Walgampola volunteered for the Green Party election campaign.[6] In 2023 Walgampola ran as the candidate for the Mount Roskill electorate and received 12.12% of votes behind the Labour Party's Michael Wood (30.4%) and National Party member Carlos Cheung (43.40%).[7][8][9] Walgampola advocates for a community-led attitude towards politics and focuses on issues supporting tino rangatiratanga and migrant and minority voices.[4]
Before being involved in New Zealand politics, Walgampola was a mental health support worker.[10]
Walgampola practices the art form of Geta Beraya, the traditional Sri Lankan drums.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Newslink, Indian (26 September 2023). "Greens vow to strengthen immigration guardrails to end exploitation". indiannewslink.co.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Bhana, Anusha (13 April 2022). "Community Voices - What's Your Tūrangawaewae? Part 3 [Fri 8 Apr]". Inclusive Aotearoa. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Duality". Duality. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Suveen Sanis Walgampola Education". linkedin.com.
- ^ a b Suveen Sanis Walgampola- Season 2, Episode 6, 11 August 2023, retrieved 18 January 2024
- ^ "Suveen Sanis Walgampola | Mt Roskill | List Rank #21". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Auckland's Mt Roskill votes for change, now the hard part begins". RNZ (in Chinese). 17 October 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Blue wave over Auckland, Act's van Velden wins Tāmaki". NZ Herald. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Results of the 2023 New Zealand general election", Wikipedia, 24 December 2023, retrieved 18 January 2024
- ^ "Suveen Sanis Walgampola - Candidate for Mt Roskill electorate - NZ Election 2023". Policy.nz. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
Further reading
[edit]- I feel 'apologetic' for the crime we didn't commit, says a Kiwi Sri Lankan after terror attack
- Local government needs the right people in communities
- Migrant Exploitation – A Political Choice! A deep and institutionally embedded system | Suveen Sanis Walgampola | Auckland
- Sri Lankan Kiwis View the Crisis in Colombo
- Suveen Sanis Walgampola- Season 2, Episode 6
- Community Voices – What’s Your Tūrangawaewae? Part 3
- Melanin Rising Panel Talk
- Living people
- 21st-century New Zealand politicians
- Candidates in the 2023 New Zealand general election
- Politicians from Auckland
- People educated at Auckland Grammar School
- University of Auckland alumni
- Massey University alumni
- Sri Lankan diaspora
- Sri Lankan emigrants to New Zealand
- New Zealand people of Sri Lankan descent