Princy Mangalika
Princy Mangalika is a Sri Lankan social activist and a HIV/AIDS victim who is also well known for her efforts in fighting AIDS infection in Sri Lanka.[1] She is the founder of Positive Women's Network, a NGO which helps people who are infected by the AIDS virus.[2] In March 2019, she was acknowledged as one of twelve female change-makers in Sri Lanka by the parliament, coinciding with International Women's Day.[3][4]
Princy Mangalika | |
---|---|
Born | Ragama, Sri Lanka |
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Occupation | entrepreneur, art educator |
Organization | Positive Women's Network |
Awards | Red Ribbon Award |
Biography
Princy was born and raised up in Ragama, Western Province of Sri Lanka. In 2003, she was found to have diagnosed with HIV positive which she had contracted from her husband.[5] She was discriminated in the society ever since becoming a victim to the disease and it inspired her to lay the foundation to the Positive Women's Network. Her husband was infected with the disease while he was working in a hotel in abroad. Her husband committed suicide due to the infection and her family was chased away by the villagers.[6]
Career
Being ill-treated in the society, at the age of 53, she co-founded Positive Women's Network along with a HIV affected doctor Kamalika Abeyratne in 2009 with the aim of taking care of people who are affected by the AIDS.[7] In 2012, her organization Positive Women's Network received the Red Ribbon Award from United Nations for the outstanding community services to the people who are diagnosed with AIDS.[8] She was also honored with the Unsung Heroine award as a part of the Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year in 2016.[9]
See also
References
- Ubeyratne, Renushi (2019-03-08). "Iconic Sri Lankan Women Who Have Shaped History". Pulse. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- AsiaNews.it. "Mangalika's story: an HIV-positive Catholic woman helps fellow AIDS patients". www.asianews.it. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- "Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka parliament celebrates Sri Lankan Women Changemakers". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- Mudalige, Disna; Indrakumar, Camelia Nathaniel and Menaka. "Twelve prominent women to be celebrated". Daily News. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- "Before Judging, See The Bigger Picture | The Sunday Leader". Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- "Life Online - The Right To Education". www.life.lk. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- "'මේ ගෙදරිනුත් යන්න වෙලා'- HIV ආසාදිත වීරවරියකගේ කතාව". 2016-10-04. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- "Red Ribbon Award recognizes the work of Sri Lankan Women Living with HIV". www.unaids.org. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- "Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year 2016 - Award Winners". Adaderana.lk. Retrieved 2019-12-01.