Video: 'SIRIMAVO BANDARANAIKE, WORLD'S FIRST FEMALE PRIME MINISTER (SRI LANKA'S IRON LADY)'

(Wednesday, July 20, 1960) — Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world’s first elected female head of government today after her Sri Lanka Freedom Party won a majority in elections in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

Mrs. Bandaranaike, whose husband, S.W.D. Bandaranaike, had been Prime Minister until his assassination in 1959, took office as PM of Ceylon the following day, and assumed the jobs of Defense Minister and External Affairs Minister as well.