BIOGRAPHY

Nishara Mendis is a lecturer in the Department of Public and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She currently teaches and is a research advisor for  the topics of Public International Law, International Humanitarian Law, Law of the Sea and Human Rights. Her current research interests are focused on economic and social rights, WTO Law, Humanitarian Law and Law and Literature. She received her LL.B (Hons, First Class) from the University of Colombo and LL.M from Yale Law School, where she concentrated on international law. She has also completed her PhD  research at Maastricht University, The Netherlands and received her doctorate in 2020. Her PhD title is National Policy Space in the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services: With Special Reference to Public Health Services. Dr. Mendis is also Executive Editor of the Sri Lanka Journal of International Law, and Academic Co-Ordinator for the E-Diploma in Human Rights at the Center for Study of Human Rights (CSHR).

Qualifications, Fellowships and Certifications

  • PhD 2020

    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

    Maastricht University, The Netherlands

  • LL.M. 2005

    Degree of Master of Laws

    Yale Law School, United States

  • LL.B. 2003

    Bachelor of Laws - First Class Honours

    University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • Attorney-at-Law 2006

    Attorney-at-Law

    Supreme Court of Sri Lanka

  • CTHE 2007

    Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education

    Staff Development Center, University of Colombo recognized by the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), UK

  • Intensive Course 2003

    Intensive Course on Bioethics

    conducted by the Forum for Research and Development (Sri Lanka) in collaboration with the Center for Study of Human Rights, University of Colombo, Kings College, University of London and the WHO, Geneva.

Positions

  • 20192017

    Exams Co-ordinator

    Faculty of Law

  • Now2016

    Academic Co-ordinator

    E-Diploma in Human Rights

  • 20182014

    Organizing Committee Member

    Law goes Green

  • 20182018

    Visiting Lecturer

    Law of Sea for KDU

  • 20072008

    Consultant

    Transparency International, Sri Lanka

  • 2016 - 20182007 -2008

    Consultant

    National Science Foundation

  • 20072006

    Lecturer

    Post Graduate Diploma in Health Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo

  • 20042003

    Researcher

    Legal and Constitutional Unit, Center for Policy Alternatives, Colombo 7

  • 20082006

    Research Assistant

    Judge C.G. Weeramantry (formerly of the International Court of Justice) at the Weeramantry Center for Peace Education and Research

  • 20112008

    Tutor/Lecturer and examiner

    Introduction to Law at University College Maastricht (UCM), Maastricht University

  • 20072006

    Lecturer

    Post Graduate Diploma in Health Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo

  • 20082006

    Visiting Lecturer

    Open University of Sri Lanka – for modules for the MA and for the Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Studies and Public Policy