Undertaking a State Visit to China, Mrs Bandaranaike was warmly received by Chinese leader Mao Tsetung, Premier Chou En-lai and senior leaders of the country. In her wide ranging discussions with her counterpart, Mrs Bandaranaike explained the Five Year Plan of her Government. In support of her efforts, the Chinese Government immediately provided Sri Lanka
The promulgation of a Republican constitution on 22 May 1972 saw the end of Dominion status and the birth of a completely independent Sri Lanka. Under the new constitution the office of Governor General, hitherto appointed by the Queen of the United Kingdom, was replaced by the office of Head of State as President. Mr
With a keen view in nurturing local cinema, Mrs Bandaranaike was instrumental in the establishment of the State Film Corporation in an era in which cinema and stage drama were the sole forms of visual entertainment. Providing much needed support to the industry, the Film Corporation played a pivotal role in promoting local films, providing
Mrs Bandaranaike’s Government introduced the Agricultural Productivity Act in 1972 with the aim of defining standards of production in respect of land held with the threat of confiscation of the owners do not conform. Whilst this Act abolished cultivation committees, it established agricultural productivity committees with the objective of reaching maximum productivity levels through the
Having identified a common yearning in the country for land and livelihoods, Mrs Bandaranaike appointed Land Reform Commission. Tasked with the re-distribution of land, the regulations which were introduced limited an adult to possessing 50 acres and also introduced a restriction on the number of houses a family could own. Through this mechanism 400, 000
Mrs Bandaranaike and her Government introduced a Five Year Plan at the end of 1971 which was to pursue the twin goals of economic independence and economic growth. Lauded by several countries for its direction and strategy, the Five Year Plan was intended to boost domestic industry, sustain entrepreneurship and bolster economic growth through internal
Undertaking a four day official visit to the United Kingdom, Mrs Bandaranaike, who was the guest of Prime Minister Edward Heath, appreciated the support extended by the UK, earlier that year in tackling the youth uprising in Ceylon. In addition to meeting the Queen, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
Problems confronted at the United Nations, fermenting issues in South Asia and Canadian aid to Ceylon were among the main topics of discussion during Mrs Bandaranaike’s visit to Canada. Considered a reciprocal visit, after Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau had visited Ceylon at the beginning of 1971, she met with Canadian Foreign Minister Mitchell Strap during
Mrs Bandaranaike, whilst visiting the United States of America to address the United Nations General Assembly, undertook a private visit to Washington. She held bilateral discussions with US President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office, as well as conducted meetings with Secretary of State William Rogers, in addition to being hosted by the US First
Attending the 26thsession of the United Nations General Assembly in October 1971, Mrs Bandaranaike proposed the declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. This topic featured in her discussions with UN Secretary General U Thant. The resolution which was sponsored by Ceylon and Tanzania was co-sponsored by several other countries and received
The Upper House of Parliament, in the bi-cameral system of governance which was in place in Ceylon ceased to exist on 26th September 1971. Mrs Bandaranaike, having been first brought into the political mainstream through the Senate upon her election in 1960, was in the process of effecting constitutional change with a new Republican constitution
Mrs Bandaranaike, who had bravely faced the attempted coup d’état a decade earlier at the beginning of her first term, was to face one of her main challenges just a year into her second term with the outbreak of a youth led armed insurrection by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Whilst the Government was able
The four day visit of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau marked a milestone in relations between Ceylon and Canada. The friendship that Mrs Bandaranaike enjoyed with the Canadian Premier would continue well into her tenure. Holding Ceylon in high regard in the Commonwealth, Prime Minister Trudeau had often held up the country for accommodating two
Attending the first ever Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which replaced the early Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference, Mrs Bandaranaike articulated her proposal for the creation of an Indian Ocean Peace Zone. The leaders meeting in Singapore also deliberated on issues concerning Rhodesia and South Africa, which dominated the discussions.
Mrs Bandaranaike received Pope Paul VI who undertook a short visit to Sri Lanka in December 1970. The visit which was confined to the Ratmalana Airport was highly significant as it was the first visit by a Pope to Ceylon.
Following the visit of Chinese Premier Chou En Lai in February 1964 and the assurance of the construction of an international conference hall in memory of Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, the ground-breaking ceremony was held on 24 November 1970 in the presence of Mrs Bandaranaike, Governor General William Gopallawa and the Cabinet
The death of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, a stalwart of the Non Aligned Movement and close friend of Mrs Bandaranaike, saw her travelling to Cairo for the State Funeral. Mrs Bandaranaike had met him with just weeks before his death at the Non Aligned Summit in Lusaka when President Nasser had relinquished leadership of
The third Non Aligned Movement Summit saw President Kenneth Kaunda take over leadership of the Non Aligned Movement from Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser in Lusaka. Mrs Bandaranaike, leading the Ceylon delegation was firm in reiterating opposition to any form of pressure, economic or military from any power bloc. Addressing the Conference, she pointed out
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew was a guest of Mrs Bandaranaike early in her second term. Making the first stop in Colombo on his world tour, that was to last several weeks, Prime Minister Lee held wide ranging discussions with Mrs Bandaranaike. During his stay in the country he also visited the University of
Returning as Prime Minister for a second time, Mrs Bandaranaike was sworn in before Governor-General William Gopallawa at Queen’s House. In addition to serving as Prime Minister, Mrs Bandaranaike also held the portfolios of Defence and External Affairs as well as Planning and Employment.
