Sirimavo Bandaranaike (1916)
Bandaranaike’s husband became prime minister of Ceylon in 1956 and was assassinated three years later. In the election that followed, Bandaranaike’s party was victorious—making her the world’s first female prime minister. She headed two coalition governments and served again as prime minister when she was appointed by her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was elected president in 1994. While in office, Bandaranaike promoted a new constitution that changed the country’s name to what? More…
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