Following the killing of her husband, Sirimavo Bandaranaike was elected as the world's first female Prime Minister on July 21, 1960. She promoted principles of nonalignment abroad and democratic socialism at home. Following her husband's killing, Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female Prime Minister on July 21, 1960. She promoted nonalignment policies both overseas and at home, as well as democratic socialism.
Sirimavo (sometimes Sirima) Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike was born on April 17, 1916, to an aristocratic Kandyan family and educated in a Roman Catholic convent in Colombo. Bandaranaike married Solomon West Ridge-way Dias (SWRD) Bandaranaike in 1940, when he was a minister in the government of Ceylon, then a British crown territory. Bandaranaike's life was politically unremarkable. She had the preoccupations of a homemaker married to an important national leader who became Ceylon's prime minister in 1956, eight years after independence. However, SWRD Bandaranaike was slain by a Buddhist monk in 1959, and such was SWRD's charisma that his organization, the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP), picked Sirimavo Bandaranaike to be its leader.
"Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike, Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, created history today when she became the world's only woman Prime Minister," the first paragraph of a news piece in the respected British journal 'Guardian' dated 22 July 1960 declared. Since Ceylon's independence in 1947, she has served as its sixth Prime Minister. Her party won 75 of the 151 elected seats and will be joined by eight more elected and six appointed members. This will give her a veto-proof majority in the House."
Mrs. Bandaranaike became Prime Minister in July 1960 when I was six years old, and I can clearly recall the joy that swept the country when she was selected. Our family was living in Hulftsdorp at the time, in a multi-ethnic neighborhood with Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and Malays, though Muslims were the majority. It was part of the then-multi-member Colombo Central constituency, which elected three representatives.
Mrs. Bandaranaike became Prime Minister in July 1960 when I was six years old, and I recall the enthusiasm that swept the country when she was appointed. Our family was living in Hulftsdorp at the time, in a multi-ethnic neighborhood where Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and Malays coexisted, albeit Muslims were the majority. It was part of the multi-member Colombo Central constituency, which elected three MPs at the time.
At the evening, a cultural event was held in the community park (it was turned into a housing scheme later). Several ladies rhythmically tapped and banged the 'raban.' The 'Nathaswararam' and 'Thavil' were performed by Tamil musicians. In Sinhala, a 'Kavimaduwa' was held in which paeans of praise were chanted in honor of the country's first female prime minister. A puppet show was also performed. The gathering was capped off by a fireworks show.
Large people lined the streets of Colombo to applaud Sirimavo as she was transported from her palace Tintagel at Rosemead Place to the then Governor-mansion General's Queen's House in Fort. She was transported to Temple Trees, the prime minister's official house in Colpetty, after being sworn in by Sir Oliver Goonetiilake.
There was no television at the time, but the newspapers were packed with information and photographs about the momentous event. Everyone looked ecstatic that the country had produced the world's first female prime minister. There was a joyous vibe in the air. In this framework, I describe the remarkable Sri Lankan narrative of Sirimavo Bandaranaike becoming the world's first female prime minister.
She was born to rule...
Sirimavo, the oldest daughter of Barnes Ratwatte Dissawe and Rosalind Hilda Mahawelatanna Kumarihamy, was born on April 17, 1916, in Balangoda. Hetuwa Gurunanse, a well-known astrologer, was asked to chart her horoscope. The parents were astounded to learn that their daughter will become the country's future queen. The horoscope, on the other hand, was correct, and the girl did become queen, although an uncrowned one.
Sirimavo attended St. Bridget's Convent in Colombo for his education. Solomon W.R.D. Bandaranaike, her husband, died in 1940. Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, Mahamudaliyar of Horagolla Walauwwe, Attanagalle, was his father. The marriage was celebrated at the time as a merger of two noble Sinhala families from the Low Country and the Up Country. Solomon had three children with Sirimavo. Sunethra and Chandrika, the couple's two daughters, were born in 1943 and 1945, respectively. Anura, the family's first child, was born in 1949. In 2008, he died.
Sirimavo was satisfied to remain a housewife and mother of three children for the next 20 years while her husband rose up the political ranks as a minister, opposition leader, and ultimately prime minister. SWRD never urged Sirima to get active in politics. Sirimavo was forced to the political front stage after her husband was assassinated in September 1959. Party leadership and prime ministerial position were not things she wanted or desired, but both were imposed upon her.
On September 25, 1959, Talduwe Somarama Thera assassinated S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. On September 26, he died. Wijayananda Dahanayake, the then-Education Minister, was sworn in as the country's fifth prime minister by Governor-General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke. Daha, as Dahanayake was known, was a rebel. Dahanayake's brief stint as Prime Minister was a fiasco. He lacked the trust of his Cabinet.
The party officials wanted Mrs. Bandaranaike to run in the by-election for the Attanagalle constituency, which had been left vacant by the death of the Horagolla laird. She, however, declined. She eventually caved after considerable pressure, but only on the condition that she run as an Independent rather than an SLFP candidate. She had been deeply concerned by reports of inner-party intrigues in her husband's assassination and was hesitant to be associated with the party at the time. Because Prime Minister Dahanayake dissolved Parliament on December 5, 1959, the anticipated by-election did not take place. Dahanayake remained in charge of a caretaker administration following the dissolving of the government.
The declaration of an election on March 19, 1960, altered the political landscape. Instead of remaining with the SLFP, Prime Minister Dahanayake went on a political initiative, founding his own political party, the Lanka Prajathanthra Pakshaya (LPP). The SLFP's top brass were alarmed. The country's sentiment was hostile toward the ruling party and the government. The stock of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) rose upon the re-entry of Dudley Senanayake into active politics. The SLFP, with its hand sign, was essentially written off.
Meanwhile, C.P. de Silva, a retired civil servant and senior leader, was doing everything he could to keep the party together and bring about a political revival. After Bandaranaike's death, CP should have taken over as Prime Minister. He was, however, undergoing medical care in the United Kingdom at the time. As a result, Daha was appointed Prime Minister. After his return to the nation, CP de Silva assumed leadership of the SLFP.
The SLFP prepared for elections under CP's supervision. He was tipped to be the next Prime Minister. As the election campaign began, it became clear that, despite the CP's best efforts, the SLFP was doomed to loss. Crowds thinned out, and there was a palpable lack of excitement among party leaders. The party would have been a rudderless ship without S.W.R.D. - SRI LANKA for a reason
Official Website :http://sirimavobandaranaike.org/
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