Sirimavo Bandaranaike: The Queen of Sri Lankan Politics

Sirimavo Bandaranaike was a Sri Lankan politician and the first female Prime Minister in the world. She served as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka three times, which was quite the feat considering the Sri Lankan political scene was a bit of a hot mess.

Born in 1916 in the small village of Ratnapura, Bandaranaike was a force to be reckoned with. She was known for her fiery speeches and cunning political maneuvers, earning her the nickname “Queen of Sri Lankan Politics,” which honestly sounds like a pretty cool title.

Bandaranaike was married to another well-known politician, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, who later became the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, he was assassinated in 1959, which was a major bummer. But instead of crying into her tea, Sirimavo stepped up to the plate and took over as the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which was her husband’s party at the time. Talk about girl power.

In 1960, Sirimavo led her party to victory in the general elections, becoming the first female Prime Minister in the world. It’s safe to say she made history, but honestly, we’re not surprised - have you seen how cool she looks in all of her old photos?

During her time as Prime Minister, Bandaranaike implemented several social and economic policies that were pretty unconventional for the time, including nationalizing education and healthcare. She also gave a big middle finger to imperialism by openly supporting non-aligned countries and distancing herself from Western powers.

Sirimavo was also known for her love of rice and curry, which honestly just makes me like her even more. She might have been a powerful politician, but she was also just like us - getting excited about our favorite foods.

In conclusion, Sirimavo Bandaranaike was a total badass who broke barriers and made her mark on history. She was the Queen of Sri Lankan politics, but honestly, she could have been the Queen of the whole world and we wouldn’t have even questioned it. A true icon.