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Who was the First Woman to Become the Prime Minister of a Country in the World?

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 9th, 2023

Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the First Woman to become the Prime Minister of a Country in the World. She became Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (& then of the Dominion of Ceylon) in 1960. She presided over the Sri Lanka Freedom Party from 1960 to 1994. She served three terms as prime minister, twice as the head of state from 1960 to 1965, and once more under a presidential system from 1994 to 2000, while Chandrika Kumaratunga was president.

First Woman Prime Minister of a Country in the World

Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike also served as the Minister of Defence in Sri Lanka and created the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs in the country. Her social work was centered on improving rural Sri Lankan women and girls’ lives.

Bandaranaike, who was born into a Kandyan aristocratic family of Sinhalese, continued to practice Buddhism and spoke both Sinhala and English despite attending Catholic English-medium schools. After completing her secondary education, she worked for several social programs before getting married and starting a family.

Bandaranaike was appointed to her third term as prime minister when her daughter, who took over as party leader after her, won the presidential election in 1994. She held the position until her resignation in 2000, two months before her passing.

Summary:

Who was the First Woman to Become the Prime Minister of a Country in the World?

The First Woman to become the Prime Minister of a Country in the World was Sirimavo Bandaranaike. She won three times as prime minister of Sri Lanka and Ceylon. She held the position of prime minister for three terms: from 1960 to 1965, twice as the head of state, and again from 1994 to 2000. She also served as the Minister of Defence and External Affairs and started the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

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