Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (1916–2000) stands as a pioneering figure in global politics. She became the world’s first elected female prime minister in 1960 when she led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to victory in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Over a career spanning more than four decades, she served three non-consecutive terms as prime minister (1960–1965, 1970–1977, and 1994–2000), making her the longest-serving prime minister in Sri Lankan history.
Born into privilege yet shaped by social conscience, she rose from the shadow of her assassinated husband to shape post-colonial Sri Lanka through socialist reforms, non-aligned foreign policy, and a commitment to rural development. Her story intertwines personal tragedy, family political dynasty, and the turbulent nation-building of a young republic.
Early Life and Marriage
Sirima Ratwatte was born on 17 April 1916 in Ratnapura, British Ceylon, into a wealthy Sinhalese Kandyan aristocratic family. Her father, Barnes Ratwatte, served as a prominent local official (Disawe of Sabaragamuwa), and her mother, Rosalind Hilda Mahawalatenne Kumarihamy, was an informal Ayurvedic practitioner. As the eldest of six children, young Sirima grew up in traditional walawwas (manor houses) surrounded by books and a sense of public duty.
Educated at Anglican English-medium schools, including St. Bridget’s Convent in Colombo, she remained a devout Buddhist and spoke fluent Sinhala and English. After finishing school around age 19, she immersed herself in social work through the Lanka Mahila Samiti, focusing on rural women’s education, health clinics, family planning, and economic empowerment in villages. She served in various leadership roles, including president of the organization.
On 2 October 1940, she married Solomon West Ridgeway Dias (S.W.R.D.) Bandaranaike in what was called “the wedding of the century.” S.W.R.D., from a prominent low-country family, was already a rising politician. The couple had three children: Sunethra (born 1943), Chandrika (1945), and Anura (1949). While raising her family and hosting political gatherings at their Colombo home (Tintagel) and ancestral estate (Horagolla), Sirimavo supported her husband’s career without seeking the spotlight herself. She joined him on campaigns and continued her welfare work.
Entry into Politics: Tragedy and Triumph (1959–1960)
S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike founded the SLFP in 1951 and became prime minister in 1956 on a platform of Sinhala nationalism, socialism, and Buddhist revival. On 25 September 1959, he was assassinated by a Buddhist monk amid political and religious tensions. The country descended into chaos.
Initially reluctant, Sirimavo was persuaded by SLFP leaders to take charge. In May 1960 she became party chairperson. Campaigning as the “weeping widow” who would continue her husband’s vision, she led the SLFP to a landslide victory in the July 1960 elections. On 21 July 1960, at age 44, she was sworn in as prime minister — and the world’s first female head of government elected in her own right. She also held the portfolios of Defence and External Affairs.
First Term: Nationalization and Non-Alignment (1960–1965)
Her government pursued democratic socialism. Key measures included nationalizing banks (creating the People’s Bank), insurance, petroleum distribution (Ceylon Petroleum Corporation), and foreign trade. Parochial schools were taken over in 1960 to reduce foreign (largely Catholic) influence and expand access. The Sinhala Only policy, making Sinhala the sole official language, was enforced, sparking Tamil protests and a state of emergency.
Economically, the policies aimed to reduce foreign control and benefit the rural majority, but they contributed to shortages, strikes, and inflation. A 1962 military coup attempt was foiled. Internationally, Bandaranaike championed non-alignment. She attended the 1961 Belgrade Non-Aligned Summit, mediated between India and China after their 1962 border war, and strengthened ties with China and the Soviet Union while maintaining Commonwealth links. She opposed apartheid and supported decolonization.
By 1965, economic difficulties and defections over a press nationalization bill led to defeat. She became Leader of the Opposition — the first woman in that role.
Second Term: Radical Reforms and Challenges (1970–1977)
Returning to power in 1970 at the head of a United Front coalition with left-wing parties, Bandaranaike implemented more sweeping changes. The 1972 constitution turned Ceylon into the Republic of Sri Lanka, severing remaining constitutional ties to Britain, recognizing Buddhism’s foremost place, and making Sinhala the official language. Land reform laws capped private holdings at 20 hectares and nationalized foreign-owned plantations (1975), redistributing land to peasants.
Nationalization extended to large businesses. A Ministry focused on women’s affairs was established. She chaired the 1976 Non-Aligned Summit in Colombo and proposed an Indian Ocean Zone of Peace.
Challenges were severe: the 1971 JVP youth insurrection was suppressed, the 1973 oil crisis worsened deficits, and ethnic tensions with Tamils grew. Economic stagnation, shortages, and authoritarian measures (including press controls) eroded popularity. The SLFP suffered a crushing defeat in 1977.
Later Years, Family Dynasty, and Final Term
After 1977, Bandaranaike faced personal and political setbacks. In 1980 her civic rights were stripped for alleged abuses of power during her terms (restored in 1986). She ran unsuccessfully for president in 1988. Her son Anura briefly defected to the opposition, while daughter Chandrika rose within the SLFP.
In 1989 she returned to parliament as Leader of the Opposition. Health issues, including a stroke and arthritis, increasingly limited her mobility.
The Bandaranaike political dynasty reached new heights in 1994 when Chandrika Kumaratunga won the presidency. Sirimavo was appointed prime minister on 19 August 1994 — her third term — largely in a ceremonial capacity under the 1978 executive presidential system. She resigned on health grounds in August 2000 at age 84.
She died of a heart attack on 10 October 2000, shortly after voting in parliamentary elections. Sri Lanka observed national mourning; she was buried beside her husband at the Horagolla Bandaranaike Samadhi.
Legacy and Impact
Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s historic achievement broke the glass ceiling for women in politics worldwide and inspired generations. She advanced rural development, women’s welfare, land redistribution, and Sri Lanka’s voice in the Non-Aligned Movement. Her governments expanded state control over the economy to reduce inequality and foreign dominance.
Critics point to economic mismanagement that contributed to stagnation and shortages, Sinhala-centric policies that alienated Tamils and helped fuel the civil war, and authoritarian tendencies. The family’s political dominance also drew charges of nepotism.
Yet her courage in entering politics after personal tragedy, her diplomatic skill on the world stage, and her role in establishing Sri Lanka as a republic remain enduring. As the matriarch of a political dynasty that included a president (Chandrika) and a Speaker of Parliament (Anura), she embodied both the promise and complexities of post-independence leadership in South Asia.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s life — from aristocratic social worker to three-time prime minister — remains a testament to resilience, vision, and the transformative power of women in public life. Her legacy continues to shape discussions on gender, socialism, and national identity in Sri Lanka and beyond.
