Chandrika Kumaratunga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chandrika Kumaratunga
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චන්ද්රිකා කුමාරතුංග
சந்திரிகா குமாரதுங்க |
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Kumaratunga in 2015
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| 5th President of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 12 November 1994 – 19 November 2005 |
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| Prime Minister | Sirimavo Bandaranaike Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Ranil Wickremesinghe Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Preceded by | Dingiri Banda Wijetunga |
| Succeeded by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| 11th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 19 August 1994 – 12 November 1994 |
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| President | Dingiri Banda Wijetunga |
| Preceded by | Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Succeeded by | Sirimavo Bandaranaike |
| Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party | |
| In office 19 August 1994 – 19 November 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Sirimavo Bandaranaike |
| Succeeded by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Member of Parliament for Gampaha |
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| In office 19 August 1994 – 12 November 1994 |
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| Majority | 464,588 Preferential Votes |
| 2nd Chief Minister of the Western Province | |
| In office 21 May 1993 – 20 August 1994 |
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| Governor | Suppiah Sharvananda D. M. Swaminathan |
| Preceded by | Susil Moonesinghe |
| Succeeded by | Morris Rajapaksa |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Chandrika Bandaranaike
29 June 1945 Colombo, British Ceylon |
| Political party | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
| Other political affiliations |
People's Alliance (1994–2004) United People's Freedom Alliance (2004–2006) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Yasodhara Kumaratunga Vimukthi Kumaratunga |
| Parents | Solomon Bandaranaike (father) Sirimavo Ratwatte (mother) |
| Residence | Horagolla Walauwa |
| Education | Institut d'Études Politiques d'Aix-en-Provence Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris |
| Signature |  |
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (born 29 June 1945) is a Sri Lankan politician. She was the fifth president of Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2005. She also served as the prime minister for a short time in 1994. Before that, she was the chief minister of the Western Province from 1993 to 1994.
Chandrika Kumaratunga is important because she was Sri Lanka's first and only female president. She was also the country's second female prime minister. She led the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from 1994 to 2005.
She was elected president in 1994 with a large number of votes. She won again in 1999. She is the longest-serving president in Sri Lanka's history.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
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Chandrika Bandaranaike was born on 29 June 1945, in Colombo, British Ceylon. Her parents were Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike and Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike. Her family was very well-known and wealthy.
Her father, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, was a lawyer and a politician. He became the first Cabinet Minister of Health and Local Government when Sri Lanka became independent in 1948. He later started his own party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He became the Leader of the Opposition in 1952 and then Prime Minister in 1956.
Her mother, Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike, also came from an important family. After her father passed away, her mother took over the SLFP. In 1960, she became the world's first female prime minister.
Chandrika grew up in a political family. She was the second of three children. Her older sister was Sunethra Bandaranaike. Her younger brother, Anura Bandaranaike, also became a politician. He served as a cabinet minister.
Education and Studies
Chandrika went to St Bridget's Convent, Colombo for her early education. She then started studying law at Aquinas University College, Colombo.
In 1967, she went to France on a scholarship. She studied French language and culture for a year. In 1968, she went to the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). She earned a diploma in political science in 1970.
After that, she started a PhD program in development economics. She studied in Paris from 1970 to 1973. She can speak Sinhala, English, and French very well.
Beginning Her Political Journey
Chandrika returned to Sri Lanka in 1972. Her mother was serving her second term as prime minister. Chandrika joined the SLFP, the party her father founded. In 1974, she became a member of the executive committee of the party's Women's League.
She worked for the Land Reforms Commission. This commission took over private land to be used by the state. Later, she became the chairman of the Janawasa Commission. This commission set up collective farms on the acquired land.
After her mother's government lost the 1977 election, Chandrika left government service. She worked as a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations until 1979.
Forming a New Party
In 1978, she married Vijaya Kumaratunga. He was a famous actor and a political activist. Chandrika supported his political activities. In 1984, she left the SLFP when her husband started his own party, the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP). She became the Vice President of the SLMP.
Sadly, Vijaya Kumaratunga was killed in 1988. Chandrika briefly led his party. She then formed the United Socialist Alliance with other parties. For her safety, she left Sri Lanka in 1988 and went to the United Kingdom. She worked for the United Nations University there.
Coming Back to Politics
Chandrika started visiting Sri Lanka again in 1990. She became active in politics once more. In 1991, she rejoined the SLFP.
In 1993, she became the Chief Minister of the Western Province. This was a big step in her political career.
Becoming Prime Minister (1994)
In 1994, general elections were held in Sri Lanka. Chandrika became the main leader of the SLFP. She formed a group of parties called the People's Alliance. This group won the election.
Chandrika was elected to parliament in August 1994. The People's Alliance formed a government. Chandrika became prime minister on 19 August 1994. Her mother also became a minister in her cabinet. Chandrika also took over as the leader of the SLFP.
Serving as President (1994–2005)
Soon after becoming prime minister, presidential elections were called. Chandrika decided to run for president.
First Term (1994–1999)
Chandrika won the presidential election in 1994. She received 62.28% of the votes. She became the first female President of Sri Lanka in November 1994. She then appointed her mother to be the new prime minister.
Her government continued to support open economic policies. This helped major industries like clothing, foreign money sent home by workers, and tea exports. Some of her economic projects faced challenges.
Her government also worked to investigate actions of the previous government.
Working Towards Peace and Stability
Early in her presidency, she tried to make peace with the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). This was an effort to end the ongoing civil war. However, these peace efforts did not work out. The LTTE broke the ceasefire in April 1995.
After that, she focused more on military actions against them. Her government launched several major operations. One important operation was Operation Riviresa, which captured the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE.
International Relations
Her government worked to improve Sri Lanka's standing in the world. This was led by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. They successfully got the LTTE banned internationally. The United States and the United Kingdom banned the LTTE in 1997 and 2001. This helped to stop the group from getting money.
Her government also re-established official diplomatic ties with Israel in 2000. Israel became a major supplier of weapons to Sri Lanka.
Second Term (1999–2005)
In October 1999, Kumaratunga called for an early presidential election. She was injured in an incident at her final election rally in December 1999. Despite this, she won the election on 21 December. She was sworn in for another term the next day.
During her second term, the civil war continued. The country's economy faced difficulties.
- Working with a Different Government
In December 2001, her party, the People's Alliance, lost the parliamentary election. Her political opponent, Ranil Wickremesinghe, became the new prime minister. Chandrika remained president, but her relationship with the new government was difficult.
In February 2002, Wickremesinghe's government and the LTTE signed a ceasefire agreement. This was meant to lead to peace talks. However, President Kumaratunga felt that Wickremesinghe was being too soft on the LTTE. In November 2003, she took control of some ministries herself.
- Forming a New Alliance
In January 2004, Kumaratunga's party formed a new alliance. It was called the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA). This alliance won the election in April 2004. Mahinda Rajapaksa became prime minister.
Her six-year term as president ended in 2005. She argued that her term should be longer. However, the Supreme Court decided that her term ended in 2005. In the presidential election that followed, Mahinda Rajapaksa became the new president.
After Her Presidency
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In 2006, Chandrika Kumaratunga stepped down from leading the SLFP. She then left Sri Lanka for some time.
She is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders. She is also part of the Global Leadership Foundation. In 2009, she joined the board of directors of the Club de Madrid. She often speaks at events for the Clinton Global Initiative.
In 2015, Chandrika Kumaratunga returned to active politics. She supported Maithripala Sirisena in the 2015 Presidential election. He won against Mahinda Rajapaksa. In the same year, she was appointed as the chairperson of the office for national unity and reconciliation. This role helps to promote unity in Sri Lanka.
In 2018, she helped form an alliance against the president of the Maldives. She also supported Sajith Premadasa in the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election.
Personal Life
Chandrika married actor and politician Vijaya Kumaratunga in 1978. He passed away in 1988. They had two children together.
Their daughter, Yasodhara Kumaratunga, was born in 1980. She became a medical doctor. Their son, Vimukthi Kumaratunga, was born in 1982. He became a veterinary surgeon.
Honours and Decorations
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Date |
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Commander of the Legion of Honour | 2018 |
See also
- List of political families in Sri Lanka
- President of Sri Lanka
- Kumaratunga cabinet
