World's first woman president

Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, widow of Ceylon's assassinated prime minister Solomon Bandaranaike, has become the world's first woman prime minister. Her Sri Lanka Freedom Party won a resounding victory in the general election taking 75 out of 150 seats. Mrs Bandaranaike only entered politics after her husband was shot by an extremist Buddhist on 26 September 1959. She has become known as the "weeping widow" for frequently bursting into tears during the election campaign and vowing to continue her late husband's socialist policies.This week's election was called after Dudley Senanayake's United National Party failed to produce a working majority after winning elections in March.

uly 1960 - First Cabinet of Mrs Sirima R. D. Bandaranaike. From R to L: (Front row) Commerce, Trade, Food and Shipping Minister T. B. Ilangaratne, Finance Minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike, Defence and External Affairs Minister and Prime Minister Mrs Sirima R. D. Bandaranaike, Governor General Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, Agriculture, Land, Irrigation and Power Minister and Leader of the House C. P. de Silva, Health Minister Senator A. P. Jayasuriya, Industries, Home and Cultural Affairs Minister Maithripala Senanayaka, (Back row) Local Government and Housing Minister Mahanama Samaraweera, (hidden) Education and Broadcasting Minister Badiuddin Mohamud, Labour and Nationalised Services Minister Senator C. Wijesinghe, Justice Minister Sam P. C. Fernando, Transport and Works Minister P. B. G. Kalugalle