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Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga - CBK

Became president of Sri Lanka in 1994

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was born to one of Sri Lanka's most distinguished families on 29th June 1945. Her father, SWRD Bandaranaike, was a senior Minister of the Government at the time of her birth. He was later to become the Prime Minister of the country, while her mother, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was to become the world's first woman Prime Minister in 1961. The Provincial Council Elections held in May 1993 represented President Kumaratunga's first entry to electoral politics. She was elected to the Western Provincial Council with an unprecedented majority, and was appointed the Chief Minister of the Province, the country's largest. In August 1994, she contested the Parliamentary General Elections as a member of the People's Alliance party, and as the People's Aliance's Prime Ministerial candidate. She was elected to Parliament by an overwhelming majority, and was appointed Prime Minister in the People's Alliance government that was formed on August 19th, 1994. In the Presidential Elections held shortly thereafter in November 1994, she contested as the People's Alliance candidate. She was elected President obtaining a record 62% of the votes cast. President Kumaratunga has had more than her fair share of personal tragedy in life. She was a school girl when her father Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike was assassinated by political opponents. Her charismatic film idol cum politician husband Wijaya Kumaratunga whom she married in 1978 was also slain by political opponents in 1988. BBC Profile Page Sri Lanka Government Profile Page Recent related sri lankan news articles: FALL OF THE `GHETTO` EELAM AND ITS IMPACT ON THE NORWEGIAN PEACE INDUSTRY. This is not second to a bankruptcy of a well established business. CBK asked Norwegians to start a peace business in SL and finally they felt ii was a lucrative business. Tuesday, 26 August 2008 - 11:44 PM Sri Lanka Time CBK to campaign against Govt. at PC polls Sunday, 15 June 2008 - 10:01 AM Sri Lanka Time CBK, Ranil and Mangala call for alliance Friday, 13 June 2008 - 7:12 AM Sri Lanka Time CBK speaks : A conspiracy to take the country to a military rule, says Chandrika Saturday, 29 March 2008 - 9:40 PM Sri Lanka Time MR used the `h` and `v` sinhala bad words on CBK in 1992 Will he repeat it? Sunday, 23 March 2008 - 1:25 PM Sri Lanka Time