Bandaranaike, Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias

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Bandaranaike, Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias (1916–2000) Sri Lankan stateswoman, prime minister (1960–65, 1970–77, 1994–2000). Following the assassination (1959) of her husband, Solomon Bandaranaike, she assumed control of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and became the world's first woman prime minister. Her daughter, Kumaratunga (1945– ), became president in 1994, and Sirimavo returned as prime minister.

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