We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
History

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Which Country Was the First to Elect a Female Prime Minister?

Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 2,193
References
Share

You might not have heard of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, but the women of Sri Lanka certainly have. In 1960, Bandaranaike became the world's first elected female head of government. The landmark occurrence was especially notable because most of the women in the South Asian nation didn't have much of a voice in politics. Even now, six decades after Bandaranaike's election, only 5.3 percent of Members of Parliament in Sri Lanka are women.

"I wouldn’t necessarily say we broke the glass ceiling with Sirimavo and Chandrika," said Sathya Karunarathne, a research executive at Advocata Institute, referring also to Chandrika Kumaratunga, Bandaranaike's daughter, who was elected as Sri Lanka's only female president as of 2021. According to Karunarathne, "they had strong pedigree politics. Their families, their husbands, fathers, the men in their lives, were deep-rooted in politics."

Bandaranaike, who was elected a year after her husband was assassinated while also serving as prime minister, held the post from 1960 to 1965 and again from 1970 to 1977. She then returned to the position in 1994, although it had become a ceremonial post by then, and remained until 2000. Bandaranaike died two months after leaving, at the age of 84.

Inside Sri Lanka:

  • Sri Lanka might be the only country where you can see the largest land and sea animals: the elephant and the blue whale.

  • More than one million of Sri Lanka's 22 million residents work in the tea industry.

  • Sri Lanka's Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is the world's oldest surviving human-planted tree.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.com/which-country-was-the-first-to-elect-a-female-prime-minister.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.