Sirimavo Bandaranaike dies

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 October 2000, 06:20 GMT]
World's first elected woman prime minister Mrs.Sirimavo Bandaranaike,84 died Tuesday morning around 10.30 a.m. while she was returning to Colombo after casting her vote at her home constituency of Attanagalle.

Born April 17, 1916 Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female head of a government when she was elected as the Prime Minister in July 1960, after the assassination of her husband and then Prime Minister, S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike.

She served also as the Prime Minister between 1970 and 1977.

Mrs. Bandaranaike was again made Prime Minister by her daughter, President Chandrika Kumaratunge in 1994.

Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike retired from her office 10 August this year.