The Honourable Sirimavo Bandaranaike සිරිමාවෝ බණ්ඩාරනායක MP |
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Prime Minister of Sri Lanka | |
In office 14 November 1994 – 10 August 2000 |
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President | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
Preceded by | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
Succeeded by | Ratnasiri Wickremanayake |
In office 22 May 1972 – 23 July 1977 |
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President | William Gopallawa |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | J. R. Jayewardene |
Prime Minister of Ceylon | |
In office 29 May 1970 – 22 May 1972 |
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Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General | William Gopallawa |
Preceded by | Dudley Senanayake |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
In office 21 July 1960 – 25 March 1965 |
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Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General |
Oliver Goonetilleke William Gopallawa |
Preceded by | Dudley Senanayake |
Succeeded by | Dudley Senanayake |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 9 March 1989 – 24 June 1994 |
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Prime Minister |
Dingiri Banda Wijetunga Ranil Wickremasinghe |
Preceded by | Anura Bandaranaike |
Succeeded by | Gamini Dissanayake |
In office 5 April 1965 – 25 March 1970 |
|
Prime Minister | Dudley Senanayake |
Preceded by | Dudley Senanayake |
Succeeded by | J. R. Jayewardene |
Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party | |
In office 1960–1994 |
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Preceded by | C. P. de Silva |
Succeeded by | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament for Attanagalla |
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In office 5 April 1965 – 1980 |
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Preceded by | James Obeysekera |
Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
Personal details | |
Born |
Ceylon |
17 April 1916
Died |
10 October 2000 (aged 84) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Political party | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
Spouse(s) | Solomon Bandaranaike (1899–1959) |
Children |
Sunethra Chandrika Anura |
Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (Sinhalese: සිරිමා රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක, Tamil: சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே; 17 April 1916 – 10 October 2000), commonly known as Sirimavo Bandaranaike (the suffix "vo" denotes respect), was a Sri Lankan stateswoman and politician and the modern world's first female head of government. She served as Prime Minister of Ceylon and Sri Lanka three times, 1960–65, 1970–77 and 1994–2000, and was a long-time leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
Bandaranaike was the widow of a previous Sri Lankan prime minister, Solomon Bandaranaike, and the mother of Sri Lanka's fourth Executive President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, as well as Anura Bandaranaike, former speaker and cabinet minister.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was born on 17 April 1916, as Sirima Ratwatte to a prominent Radala family, who were descended from Ratwatte Dissawa, Dissawa of Matale, a signatory on behalf of the Sinhalese to the Kandyan Convention of 1815. Born to Barnes Ratwatte, Dissawa of Sabaragamuwa and Rosalind Mahawelatenne Kumarihamy of Mahawelatenne Walauwa, Balangoda, she was the eldest of six, with four brothers and one sister. Her father was member of the State Council and the Senate of Ceylon. Her brothers were Justice Barnes Ratwatte II, Dr Seevali Ratwatte, Dr Mackie Ratwatte (who served as her Private Security during her premiership) and Clifford Ratwatte, former Member of Parliament for Balangoda and Chairman of the State Plantations and Sri Lanka Tea Board. Her youngest sister Patsy Ratwatte was married to Colonel Edward James Divitotawela, who established the Central Command of the Ceylon Army.