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Today Sri Lanka commemorates two of her unforgettable leaders, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Both husband and wife have left an indelible mark on the political history of Sri Lanka as leaders who showed remarkable understanding and love for the common people despite their own high station in life. Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike was born on January 8, 1899 to a wealthy and distinguished family in Sri Lanka. He received his secondary education at St. Thomas' College, Colombo where he excelled both in studies as well as in sports. He proceeded to the Oxford University in 1919, where he was Secretary of the Oxford Union in 1923. He
was elected to the Colombo Municipal Council in 1927. He acted as the
Leader of the House in 1945. He founded the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and in
1952 he was His life ended on September 26, 2001 when a Buddhist monk assassinated him in his house, but his name lives on. Nothing speaks more eloquently of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike's greatness and his forgiving nature than his last words when addressed his people from his deathbed. "A foolish man dressed in the robes of a Bhikku fired some shots at me at my bungalow this morning. I appeal to all concerned to show compassion to this man and not to wreak vengeance on him. I appeal to the people of my country to be restrained and patient at this time. With the assistance of my doctors, I shall make every endeavour to be able to continue such service, as I am able to render my people. I appeal to all to be clam, patient and to do nothing that might cause trouble to the people. To those closely connected with me to Mrs. Bandaranaike and my children, to the members of the Government and all my friends and well-wishers, I make a particular appeal to be calm and to face the present situation with courage and fortitude." S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike was a legend in Sri Lankan political history. He led a peaceful but a powerful social revolution of the ordinary masses in helping the common man to achieve equality and dignity in society. Mrs. Sirimavo R.D. Bandaranaike rose to power in 1960 as a bereaved wife and mother of three, just a year after her husband was assassinated. She quickly established herself as the undisputed leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party — founded by her husband — and a formidable politician in her own right. Mrs. Bandaranaike — known simply as Mrs. B — served twice as head of state, from 1960 - when she became world’s first woman Prime Minister - to 1965 and again from 1970 to 1977. She nationalized many foreign and local enterprises and left Sri Lanka's economy into one that was heavily state dominated. She was again Prime Minister from 1994 to 2000. The legend continues with their second daughter Chandrika and their son Anura serving the nation as President of Sri Lanka and Speaker of the Parliament respectively, and their eldest daughter Sunethra engaged full time in social service. The father, mother and daughter have led Sri Lanka for 21 of the 52 years since it gained independence from the British.
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