S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike

Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (January 10, 1899 – September 26, 1959) was a Sri Lankan politician who served as the 4th Prime Minister of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) from 1956 until his assassination in 1959. Born into an aristocratic Sinhalese family, he was educated at Oxford University and entered politics after returning to Ceylon. He founded the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and led the 'Sinhala Only' movement, which made Sinhala the sole official language. His socialist policies and emphasis on Sinhalese nationalism transformed Sri Lankan politics. He was assassinated on September 26, 1959, by a disgruntled monk, making his death one of the most shocking political events in Sri Lankan history. His wife Sirimavo became the world's first female prime minister and his son Anura continued the family's political legacy.