Sirimavo Bandaranaike
On 21st July 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike changed the course of history, becoming the world’s first elected female head of government when she was sworn in as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). With a political career spanning four decades, she navigated a bipolar world on the brink of nuclear war. Shattering the glass ceiling, she paved the way for other women to reach politics’ upper echelons–though it would take another six years before any another country nominated a female leader, and almost two decades for Europe to follow suit.
Until her meteoric rise, Sirimavo had never expressed political ambition. Born into an affluent family, she was educated at Catholic convents in Colombo, though remained a practising Buddhist. After graduating, she threw herself into social work, becoming involved with local community projects, organising clinics, and often walking miles through jungles to distribute food and medicines. She advocated women’s rights,
