CHONIRA ENUSHKA ATURUPANE (daughter of Chrystabelle and Herbert Aturupane) was born in Chilaw, Sri Lanka on the 8th of September 1969. Her siblings are Harsha and Harinlal. Educated at Ladies' College, Colombo, she had a distinguished school career and was the Head Prefect. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the Smith College, Massachusetts, graduating summa cum laude with highest honours in Economics. She has an M.A. and Ph.D in Economics from Stanford University California.

Chonira is currently a Lecturer in Economics at the Ford Dorsey Program in International Policy Studies (IPS) at Stanford University. She teaches the IPS courses, International Macroeconomics, International Economics, and Governance, Corruption and Development. Her research interests include Economic Growth, International Trade, International Finance, and the Economics of Corrupt Governance. She has published articles on Managing Oil Wealth, Intra-Industry Trade and International Trade in `BADS’. Prior to working at Stanford University, she was an Economist at the International Monitory Fund (IMF) in Washington DC. As part of her duties for the IMF, she travelled extensively, including to countries such as Mongolia, Azerbaijan and Samoa.

Chonira married Sohan de Mel in September 1997 at the Chapel of the Transfiguration of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. Sohan is a Vice President at Oracle Corporation, California. They have one son, Deshan Ashton, who is a student at Woodlands School in Portola Valley, California.