The First Woman Prime Minister

      Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first woman Prime Minister in the world, when she was chosen to head the government of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1960, following the assassination of her husband.

      Sirimavo Bandaranaike was born in 1916, to an aristocratic family. Married to Solomon Bandaranaike in 1940 when he was a minister in the government to Ceylon, then a British colony, Solomon Bandaranaike became the Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1956. In 1959, He was assassinated. Then, Sirimavo became the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. And, in July 1960, she became the first woman Prime Minister in the world. Her party lost the 1965 elections.

      Sirimavo Bandaranaike was back as the Prime Minister in 1970 elections.

      Her second term was difficult, with a rebellion in 1971, as well as the establishment of a new republican constitution in 1972. She was deprived of her civil rights in 1980. In 1994, she was re-elected Prime Minister. Her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was also briefly Prime Minister in 1994, later became the President.