Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga celebrates her 70th birthday today.

 

Born on June 29, 1945, she is the daughter of former Prime Minister of Ceylon late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and the first female Prime Minister of the world Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Educated in St. Bridget's Convent in Colombo and University of Paris, Kumaratunga was active in Sri Lanka Freedom Party from the 1970s. She married popular film star Vijaya Kumaratunga. Later she broke away from the SLFP with her husband and joined him in forming the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party.

 

Following the assassination of her husband on February 16, 1988, Kumaratunga left the country, only to return a few years later to lead the newly formed center-left People's Alliance. Elected Chief Minister of Western Province in 1993, she led her party to victory in the Parliamentary Elections in August 1994. She served as Prime Minister until her election as President in November 1994. She is the only female President of Sri Lanka todate.

 

After coming to power in August 1994, she initiated a peace process with the rebel terrorist organization, the LTTE. The peace process collapsed in April 1995.

 

The Presidential Election in 1999 was hotly contested. Kumaratunga escaped an attempt on her life by a suicide bomber, injuring one of her eyes. She won the election, defeating the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Kumaratunga served as President until November 2005.

 

She officially retired from politics soon afterwards, only to return late last year as a key member of the campaign of the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. She is thought to be one of the key decision makers in the Sirisena government.