Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga: Sri Lanka's daughter of destiny

CHANDRIKA Bandaranaike Kumaratunga — who celebrates her 80th birthday on 29 June 2025 made history in November 1994 when she was elected as Sri Lanka's first female Executive President.

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Kumaratunga known popularly as Chandrika and CBK, won the 1994 election with 62% of the votes polled. Subsequently she was re-elected President in December 1999 with 51% of the votes. Chandrika Kumaratunga has served for 11 years as Sri Lanka's president from 1994 November to 2005 November.

Prior to being elected President, Chandrika served as Prime Minister for three months. Her election as Prime Minister in August 1994 was another significant world record. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was the first ever prime minister whose parents were also prime ministers. Her father S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was Prime Minister of Sri Lanka then known as Ceylon from 1956 to 1959. Her mother Sirimavo Bandaranaike was Prime Minister from 1960 to 1965 and 1970 to 1977.

Chandrika Kumaratunga is a colourful yet controversial political personality who evoked mixed reactions in people. She was admired and loved by some. She was despised and hated by others. There is no denying that Chandrika was guilty of several negative acts of omission and commission. This is true of almost every political leader who assumes office after a popular election. Campaigning is in verse but governance is in prose!

Chandrika was hailed as an angel of peace when she was elected to power in 1994. She had campaigned on a platform of peace and reconciliation. President Kumaratunga was expected to end the cruel war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and usher in lasting peace through a negotiated settlement. Sadly war erupted again after a brief respite. This phase of the long war dubbed as a "war for peace" brought in its wake many deaths and much destruction. Chandrika was criticised as a peace dove turned battle hawk. I too have criticised her on those lines in the past.