An activist since the 1980s, Shanthi has straddled the two worlds of donor agencies and grass roots communities for almost two decades. She has been working for international agencies such as Australian OXFAM and Christian Aid (UK), in addition to functioning as a freelance consultant to bilateral and multilateral donor agencies and the UN organizations. Her work experiences range from conducting evaluation of projects and institutions, training, as well as designing guidelines and frameworks for integrated area development programs. Shanthi was also a working member for five years of the international steering group of the civil society at the UN formed with the purpose of intervening in the process towards the Johannesburg Earth Summit II held in 2002. Currently, she is the founding chairperson of “Viluthu”, an organization committed to work for Good Governance in Sri Lanka. Although her professional experience mainly focused on gender and development issues, she has contributed to peace building in her personal capacity and through her work within Viluthu

She has written and edited 6 books and read 14 research papers both in Tamil and English on issues related to gender, development and the politics of peace. She continues to write articles in Tamil and English to periodicals. Passionately interested in the creative arts, Shanthi dabbles in Carnatic vocal music, theatre and participates in numerous media programs in addition to providing the lead for bringing out many publications.