International Success and Domestic Failure: The World’s First Female Prime Minister and the Changing of Sri Lanka’s Official Language

Context

"Uduvil Girls' College." Wikimedia Commons.

“The Boundaries of the Nine Provinces and the Year When the Survey of the Boundary Was Completed (1833 - 1910)" Sri Lanka Guardian.

On February 4, 1948, Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, became independent from the United Kingdom.

"Flag of Ceylon." Flags of the World.

"Flag of Sri Lanka." CRW Flags.

"Uduvil Girls' College." Wikimedia Commons.

Under British rule, schools were built in Tamil areas, like Uduvil, Jaffna, giving Tamils better educations than prior and English fluency. The Tamils were more open than the Sinhalese to the British education system, as Tamils did not feel their culture was threatened. This, in turn, caused British favoritism of Tamils, giving them more governmental positions of power.

"Percentage of Literacy In Sri Lanka 1881-1971." C.I.C.R.E.D.

After Independence, Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s husband Solomon W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Sinhalese just like her, founded the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in 1951, and then was elected prime minister in April 1956. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike focused controversially on making Sinhalese Sri Lanka’s official language. However, on September 26, 1959, he was assassinated, leaving behind a political party with no leader.

"Marriage to S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike." SirimavoBandaranaike.org. 1940.

"Sirimavo Bandaranaike Crying at Husband's Funeral." Alchetron. 1959.

Sirimavo Bandaranaike was pressured to continue her husband’s legacy as SLFP leader. Previously, she was viewed through her gender, pouring tea at her husband’s events. Despite this, Sirimavo Bandaranaike was soon elected SLFP leader. On July 21, 1960, Bandaranaike not only became Sri Lanka’s first female prime minister but also the world’s.

It was far from my mind to achieve any personal glory for myself when I assumed the leadership of the party at the request of its leaders. I knew that if I did not take this step the forces of reaction would once again begin to oppress the masses for whose salvation my husband sacrificed his life. - Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Thesis Sinhala Only Policy