Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (April 17, 1916 – October 10, 2000) was a Sri Lankan politician and the world's first female prime minister, serving three terms: 1960–1965, 1970–1977, and 1994–2000. Born into an aristocratic family in Balangoda, she entered politics after the assassination of her husband, Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, in 1959. She led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to victory in 1960, becoming the first woman in the world to head a government. Her government pursued socialist policies, nationalized key industries, and implemented land reforms. She was also the mother of President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Sirimavo's political career spanned four decades and she remains one of the most significant political figures in South Asian history.