Shantha Bandara alias Mahanama (1951−1990) was the first convenor of the Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF)[1] and a key leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist-Leninist political party in Sri Lanka.

Shantha Bandara was a student at University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya campus when he started his political career joining the Samaja Adhyayana Kavaya (Social Studies Circle) of the university.

After becoming the leader of southern region, he headed the list of candidates of JVP at the Colombo Municipal Council elections.

He led an unsuccessful attack on Wadduwa Army Camp and many other clandestine operations.

[4] He tried unsuccessfully to bribe the guards, but was released four months later[5] on the promise to cease violence and bring about a settlement.