She was a ‘Madam’ in every meaning of the term. She became the world’s first Prime Minister and a golden symbol in Sri Lankan politics, establishing an unbreakable record for anyone in international politics.
Twenty-one years after her death, her mature political worldview is still adored as ‘Madam’ by young and old alike.
Marriage that elevated a princess to the position of Prime Minister
Sirimavo Ratwatte, the eldest daughter of late politician Barnes Ratwatte and Rosemund Mahawalatenne Ratwatte, was born on April 17, 1916, in Balangoda.
She then enrolled in St. Bridget’s Convent in Colombo to study, where she served as a scout and excelled academically.
The unexpected meeting of Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, the young Sirima, who came to her Balangoda palace by mistake, changed the direction of Sri Lankan and world affairs, and the meeting ended with a marriage on October 3, 1940. Simultaneously, Sirimavo Ratwatte Bandaranaike could not have predicted that the marriage would alter the country’s political ground or result in the birth of the world’s first female Prime Minister.
Participating in Lanka Mahila Samithiya by storing manuals for social service
Mrs. Bandaranaike entered social service shortly after her marriage and joined the ‘Lanka Mahila Samithi’ in 1941. She has visited the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Central Provinces, as well as isolated rural areas, to Bandaranaike’s assassination and the appointment of the world’s first female Prime Ministerand rural development projects. Efforts were made to contribute as much as possible to promotion.
For about two decades, she was a member of the Lanka Mahila Samithi, which was formed by Dr. Mary Ratnam. She was its treasurer for eight years, vice-president for two years, and chair until her resignation following the Prime Minister’s appointment.
Bandaranaike’s assassination and the appointment of the world’s first female Prime Minister
Sunethra Dias Bandaranaike, Chandrika Dias Bandaranaike, and Anura Priyadarshi Solomon Dias Bandaranaike were residing at Tintagel, Rosmead Place, ten years after their marriage.
Mr. Bandaranaike, who founded the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and later became Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, maintained a demanding political life but was able to sit by his side every day of their journey.
However, Mr. Bandaranaike died on September 26, 1959, less than two decades after being sworn in as Prime Minister and less than two decades after the shooting. Mrs. Sirimavo had additional responsibility for her three children as well as the party created by her husband at the same time.
With Mr. Bandaranaike’s death, issues erupted over the SLFP and state leadership, and the party leaders urged Mrs. Sirimavo into politics as the best way to address them.
Mrs. Sirimavo reluctantly consented to take over the leadership of the SLFP, since the party created by her husband could not be allowed to perish, and with her entrance in Sri Lanka Independence, she went down in history as the first female leader of a political party.
With her entrance, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s win in the 1960 General Elections transformed world politics. On July 21, 1960, Sirimavo Ratwatte Bandaranaike was sworn in as the world’s first Prime Minister in front of the then-Governor of Sri Lanka, Sir Oliver Goonetileke.
The first term of office was fraught with difficulties
Despite becoming Prime Minister, she faced a new task in order to keep the job, and it was critical that she gain a seat in the Senate within three months of taking office. As a result, MP Mrs. Bandaranaike was able to be elected to the Senate as a representative of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party as a result of Mr. de Zoysa’s resignation.
Despite her inexperience in politics, her mature perspective excelled that of even veteran politicians, and she was a challenge to the opposition during her first time in government.
As a result, on January 27, 1962, a coup d’tat was launched to depose her; however, thanks to advance warning, the plot was thwarted and the conspirators were apprehended.
Mrs. Sirimavo who served the people in the face of adversity. During her first tenure, she attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), and her attendance at the 11th CHOGM on 17 March 1961 was the first time a Head of State attended a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. As previously stated, she had numerous problems during her first term, culminating in her defeat in the December 1964 legislative elections. As a result, on December 17, 1964, Parliament was dissolved and an election was called.
Despite these obstacles, she challenged the establishment of the Ayurvedic Research Center in Navinna, the Vipassana Meditation Center, the Sixth National Conference in Colombo to find a solution to the Indo-Chinese division, the seizure of oil firms, and the Vietnam Buddhist problem. He was instrumental in finding answers, signing the Sirima-Shastri Agreement, and beginning a strategy for irrigation and hydropower development, both domestically and internationally.
Following the dissolution of Parliament, the United National Party gained 61 seats in the March 22, 1965 election, including the Attanagalla seat, which it won by a margin of votes.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party also won 41 parliamentary seats, while Bandaranaike’s United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 55. As a result, she was appointed Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Second term and the establishment of the Republic of Sri Lanka
She founded and led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, and the Communist Party. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party gained 91 seats, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party 19, and the Communist Party 6, achieving a landslide victory with a two-thirds majority in Parliament in the general election conducted on May 27, 1970.
Bandaranaike, who achieved the country’s nominal independence, will be remembered forever on May 22, 1972, with the formal acceptance of the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka and the transformation of Sri Lanka from a Dominion to a fully independent country.
As a result, under the new Republican Constitution, the Governor was replaced as Head of State by the President, with Mr. William Gopallawa becoming the first President and Mrs. becoming Prime Minister.
During her second term, she started building the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, abolished the Senate, presented a five-year plan aimed at economic independence and growth, appointed the Land Reforms Commission, introduced the Agricultural Productivity Act, and established the State Film Corporation. He was essential in acquiring Kachchativu Island for Sri Lanka, founding the University of Jaffna, establishing the Bandaranaike Center for International Studies, and initiating the Mahaweli Project.
During this time, however, she encountered numerous hurdles, including the growth of the JVP, and was able to conquer them all. The first National State Assembly was disbanded in May 1977, and the SLFP was defeated in elections on July 21, 1977.
Her Community Rights
Bandaranaike, a bold and wise woman who entered politics after her husband passed away, had many political adversaries.
Meanwhile, following her defeat in 1977, late President J.R. Jayawardene convened a Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which concluded that Bandaranaike had abused her position as Prime Minister and had been stripped of her civic rights.
At the same time, President J.R. Jayawardena barred her from participating in active politics until Jayawardene issued an ordinance restoring her civic rights in 1986.
Also served as Prime Minister for the third time
She was re-elected as the Leader of the Opposition once citizen rights were restored, and in 1994 she was appointed as an Indefinite Minister in the Chandrika Bandaranaike Government.
However, following Chandrika Bandaranaike’s victory in the 1994 Presidential election, she was re-elected Prime Minister, and she stayed in office until her resignation on August 10, 2000, due to health issues.
On October 10, 2000, she voted at the Sangabodhi Maha Vidyalaya in Nittambuwa. She had to leave us on her journey to Colombo after completing her final service as a citizen, leaving a lasting imprint on Sri Lankan politics. Her political practice, as a woman who entered politics and earned a name for herself in international politics, is still viable in this country.
Attorney at Law Dayasiri Jayasekara
Secretary General
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
