Sirimavo Bandaranaike was a Sri Lankan politician. In 1960 she became the world’s first woman Prime Minister upon her party’s victory in the 1960 Ceylon general election. Ceylon became a republic in 1972 and was named Sri Lanka. Sirimavo Bandaranaike served as Prime Minister three times, 1960–65, 1970–77 and 1994–2000.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was born Sirima Ratwatte on April 17th 1916. Her husband Solomon Bandaranaike was elected Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1956. He was assassinated in 1959 and Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the head of his party. She was elected Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1960 and served in the office until 1965. She was elected as Prime Minister on two further occasions.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was elected Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), becoming the first woman to hold such a position, in the year 1960 On This Day.
