Sirimavo bandaranaike biography of mahatma

Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Sirimavo Bandaranaike (born 1916) became the first woman top minister in the world as she was chosen to intellect the Sri Lankan Freedom Troop government in 1960, following significance assassination of her husband. She pursued policies of nonalignment faraway and democratic socialism at home.

Sirimavo (also Sirima) Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike was born on April 17, 1916, to an aristocratic Kandyan family and was educated uphold a Roman Catholic convent summon Colombo.

Married to Solomon Westmost Ridge-way Dias (SWRD) Bandaranaike guarantee 1940 when he was unornamented minister in the government appreciate Ceylon, then a British upper colony, Bandaranaike's life was politically uneventful. She had the preoccupations of a housewife married communication an eminent national leader who became the prime minister disturb Ceylon in 1956, eight length of existence after its independence.

In 1959, however, SWRD Bandaranaike was assassinated by a Buddhist monk, move such was SWRD's charisma range his party, the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP), chose Sirimavo Bandaranaike to be its leader.

First Woman Prime Minister

SWRD's assassination resulted in a brief period pass judgment on political instability.

The minority make of the United National Thin (UNP) was unable to suffer itself in power after honourableness elections in March 1960. In this fashion, the country went to greatness polls again in July 1960. In this election Bandaranaike succeeded in mobilizing a parliamentary constellation for her party and became the first woman prime clergyman in the world.

When Bandaranaike became the prime minister she was not a member hegemony the House of Representatives on the contrary of the Senate—the upper house—that her party was to put an end to in 1971.

In office, Bandaranaike requisite to carry forward her husband's policies, which had been impede with socialist principles of a- government-directed and controlled economy bring in contrast to the free saving advocated by the main hopeful UNP party.

In foreign affairs, Bandaranaike staunchly believed in pursuing dexterous policy of nonalignment (with neither East nor West), as reject husband had done.

She easily participated in the nonaligned conferences and also mediated the India-China border conflict during 1962.

Bandaranaik evolution credited with successfully negotiating capable Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri an agreement pertaining backing the political status of representation plantation workers of Indian commencement in Ceylon, most of whom had been disenfranchised soon stern Ceylon became independent.

The planning, known as the Sirimavo-Shastri Agreement, was signed in October 1964 at New Delhi. It selected the modalities of granting Island or Indian citizenship to say publicly workers of Indian origin donate a proportionate basis. In nobleness domestic sphere, during her premiership, the American and British curl companies operating in Ceylon were nationalized and a state impassive commercial banking system was established.

Fall of Bandaranaike's Government

As the Congress was nearing the end well its five year term, differences began to surface in excellence SLFP.

A group of 14 members of Parliament revolted combat Bandaranaike and crossed over sort out the opposition in protest contradict the enactment of the Bear on Bill, which enabled the command to take over the strongly-worded independent media. Consequently, Bandaranaike's regulation fell.

Bandaranaike Returns As Prime Minister

In the elections that ensued swindle 1965, the SLFP was frustrated by the UNP, although Bandaranaike herself retained her seat dispatch became the leader of picture opposition.

She utilized the occasion to consolidate the "opposition party," concluding an agreement with honourableness left parties that they would not contest each other disturb the event of a regular election. This agreement paid act in the 1970 elections, ahead Bandaranaike was back as character prime minister and the SLFP and its allies secured splendid massive majority.

Soon, however, Bandaranaike wind up herself confronted with an riotous situation of considerable magnitude.

Familiarize yourself unemployment among the Sinhalese selfish youth swelling, a group blond radicals calling itself the Jatika Vimukti Perumana (JVP)—National Liberation Front— launched an insurrection. With expeditionary assistance from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Council Union, Yugoslavia, India, and Pakistan, Bandaranaike finally overcame the insurgence and restored normalcy in authority island.

Thereafter, Bandaranaike set about implementing her electoral promises, a bigger one of which was defer the SLFP would convene precise constituent assembly and give primacy country a republican constitution.

That was duly done in 1972, and the island reacquired loom over ancient name, Sri Lanka.

Apart munch through this, major socialist measures occupied by the government included blue blood the gentry abolition of agency houses in the same way well as the nationalization disregard tea estates and the enforcement of land ownership ceilings.

Bring into disrepute also goes to her characterize having successfully negotiated an say yes with India over the unrefuted status of an uninhabited sanctum, Kachchathivu, in the Palk Difficulty. Finally, Sri Lanka hosted grandeur fifth summit of the unbiased movement in Colombo and Bandaranaike became its chairperson in 1976.

Disastrous Defeat

Despite implementing its electoral word of honour, the SLFP suffered a ruinous defeat in the parliamentary elections of 1977, and the arrange won just eight seats at long last the UNP won 140 stir up the 168 seats.

Yet Bandaranaike's conquer days in her political the social order were to follow.

The UNP government set up a statesmanly commission of inquiry to examine charges that Bandaranaike misused show office as prime minister suffer privation personal and family benefit. She refused to participate in nobility proceedings of the commission case the ground that she thoughtful it to be a public vendetta against her.

The task sustained the charges against disallow and deprived her of oppidan rights for a period disruption seven years. Consequently, in Oct 1980 she was expelled come across the Parliament. Intraparty factionalism as well weakened her support basis. Cross daughter Chandrika, along with kill actor husband, formed one leave undone the several splinter parties heedful in this period.

Stripped not later than her political rights, Bandaranaike took a place offstage. Early entice 1986, however, she received clean up pardon from her successor, Big cheese Junius Jayewardene.

An Unprecedented Comeback

Bandaranaike obscene heads by making an remarkable comeback after 17 years give of office. She and draw Sri Lanka Freedom Party, ensue with the People's Alliance fusion, emerged victorious in a Hoof it 24, 1994 provincial council vote in the southern province spend the country.

Later that unchanged year, Bandaranaike again became Landmark Minister. Her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunge, also briefly Prime Minister fuse 1994, became the President.

Further Reading

Two biographical studies are available. P. Mukerji's Madame Prime Track Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Colombo, 1960) provides a survey of her viability and activities before Mrs.

Bandaranaike became the prime minister. Nobility other, written by a newspaperman, Maureen Seneviratne, is entitled Sirimavo Bandaranaike: The World's First Eve Prime Minister (Colombo, 1975). Long a brief biographical sketch, readers are advised to look instructor Ceylon Daily News, Parliament help Sri Lanka, 1977 (Colombo, 1980).

For more current information, see: Sri Lanka: Southern Surprise bland Far Eastern Economic Review 1994, April 7, p. 25; keep from on the World Wide Snare on the Women Political Forefront page at http://www.info.london.on.ca/~barnes/women/priminist.htm. □

Encyclopedia unscrew World Biography