View source for Chandrika Kumaratunga

{{Short description|President of Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2005}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Chandrika Kumaratunga
| native_name         = {{nobold|චන්ද්‍රිකා කුමාරතුංග}}<br />{{nobold|சந்திரிகா குமாரதுங்க}}
| image               = Chandrika Kumaratunga with PM Modi (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Kumarathunga in 2015
| imagesize           = 
| order               = 5th
| office              = President of Sri Lanka
| primeminister       = [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]<br />[[Ratnasiri Wickremanayake]]<br />[[Ranil Wickremesinghe]]<br />[[Mahinda Rajapaksa]]
| term_start          = 12 November 1994
| term_end            = 19 November 2005
| predecessor         = [[Dingiri Banda Wijetunga]]
| successor           = [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]]
| office1             = 11th [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka]]
| president1          = [[Dingiri Banda Wijetunga]]
| term_start1         = 19 August 1994
| term_end1           = 12 November 1994
| predecessor1        = [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]]
| successor1          = [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]
| office2             = [[Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party]]
| term_start2         = 19 August 1994
| term_end2           = 07 April 2006
| predecessor2        = [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]
| successor2          = [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]]
| constituency_MP3    = [[Gampaha Electoral District|Gampaha]]
| parliament3         = Sri Lanka
| term_start3         = 19 August 1994
| term_end3           = 12 November 1994
| majority3           = 464,588 Preferential Votes
| office4             = [[List of Chief Ministers of Western Province|2nd Chief Minister of the Western Province]]
| governor4           = [[Suppiah Sharvananda]]<br />[[D. M. Swaminathan]]
| term_start4         = 21 May 1993
| term_end4           = 20 August 1994
| predecessor4        = [[Susil Moonesinghe]]
| successor4          = [[Morris Rajapaksa]]
| birth_name          = Chandrika Bandaranaike
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1945|6|29|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Colombo]], [[British Ceylon]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]]
| otherparty          = [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] {{small|(1994–2004)}}<br /> [[United People's Freedom Alliance]] {{small|(2004–2006)}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Vijaya Kumaratunga]]|1978|16 February 1988|end=[[Assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga|died]]}}
| children            = Yasodhara Kumaratunga<br />Vimukthi Kumaratunga
| parents             = [[S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike|Solomon Bandaranaike]] {{small|(father)}}<br />[[Sirimavo Bandaranaike|Sirimavo Ratwatte]] {{small|(mother)}}
| education           = [[Institut d'études politiques d'Aix-en-Provence|Institut d'Études Politiques d'Aix-en-Provence]] <br />[[Paris Institute of Political Studies|Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris]]
| alma_mater          = 
| signature           = Signature of Chandrika Kumaratunga.svg
| residence           = [[Horagolla Walauwa]]
| native_name_lang    = si, ta
}}
'''Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga''' ({{langx|si|චන්ද්‍රිකා බණ්ඩාරනායක කුමාරතුංග}}; {{langx|ta|சந்திரிகா பண்டாரநாயக்க குமாரதுங்க}}; {{nee}} '''Bandaranaike'''; born 29 June 1945), commonly referred to by her initials '''CBK''', is a Sri Lankan politician who served as the fifth [[president of Sri Lanka]] from 12 November 1994 to 19 November 2005. She is the longest-serving president in Sri Lankan history. She led the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] (SLFP) from 1994 to 2006.

Born in 1945 into a prominent Sri Lankan political family, she is the daughter of two former prime ministers, [[S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike|Solomon Bandaranaike]] and [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]. Kumaratunga entered politics in the 1970s, initially focusing on social welfare and rural development. After spending several years in exile following the [[Assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga|assassination]] of her husband, [[Vijaya Kumaratunga]], she returned to Sri Lanka in the late 1980s. In 1993, she was elected [[List of chief ministers of Western Province|Chief Minister of the Western Province]]. The following year, after becoming the leader of the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]], she formed the [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)| People's Alliance]] and led her coalition to victory in the 1994 parliamentary elections. In the [[1994 Sri Lankan presidential election|presidential election]] held later that year, she was elected as the first female president of Sri Lanka, defeating UNP candidate [[Srima Dissanayake]] in the largest landslide victory in Sri Lankan history, securing almost 62% of the votes. In the [[1999 Sri Lankan presidential election|1999]] election, Kumaratunga survived an [[Attempted assassination of Chandrika Kumaratunga|assassination attempt]] during her re-election campaign and went on to win a second term, defeating UNP candidate and Leader of the Opposition, [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]].<ref name="chandrika-profile">{{cite news |date=26 August 2005 |title=BBC Profile: Chandrika Kumaratunga |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3239821.stm |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name="chandrika-britannica">{{cite web |date=24 April 2024 |title=Chandrika |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9218421/Chandrika-Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga}}</ref><ref>Skard, Torild "Chandrika Kumaratunga" in ''Women of Power – half a century of female presidents and prime ministers worldwide'', Bristol: Policy Press, 2014, 978-1-44731-578-0</ref>

She was responsible for the modernisation of the SLFP and the broader Sri Lankan left under the banner of “capitalism with a human face.” This marked a decisive shift from the inward-looking, [[Dirigisme|state-controlled economic policies]] of earlier SLFP administrations. Kumaratunga’s approach maintained a [[Market economy|market-oriented economy]] while emphasising equity and social protection, contributing to improved economic performance and broadening the appeal of her party.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sivarajah |first1=A |title=Sri Lanka's Foreign Policy Since 1994 |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/09/26/fea29.html |website=Sunday Observer Online |publisher=Sunday Observer}}</ref>

She also played a key role in restoring a degree of normalcy to public life following the turbulence of the [[1987–1989 JVP insurrection|late 1980s and early 1990s]], a period marked by political violence, state repression, and widespread insecurity during and after the [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] presidency. Her administration focused on re-establishing democratic norms and reducing extra-judicial violence to bring on greater political stability.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Srimal |first1=Fernando |title=Enduring Legacy of Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga |url=https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/11/24/enduring-legacy-of-former-sri-lankan-president-chandrika-bandaranaike-kumaratunga/ |website=Modern Diplomacy |date=24 November 2018 }}</ref> During her presidency, Kumaratunga pursued peace negotiations with the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE) in an effort to resolve the country’s long-running civil conflict. After the collapse of peace negotiations, Kumaratunga launched a military campaign known as the '''“'''''War for Peace'''''”''' during the Eelam III phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War - one of the conflict’s most intense and brutal periods of fighting. As part of a broader strategy to simultaneously isolate the LTTE politically and financially while pursuing a military solution, she succeeded in securing the group’s international isolation: many major states formally designated the LTTE a terrorist organization, cutting off key sources of funding and delivering a significant blow to its global propaganda network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jayarathna |first=Daham |date=2024-10-07 |title=A Target of the Populist Class War - In Defense of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga |url=https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2024/10/08/a-target-of-the-populist-class-war-in-defense-of-chandrika-bandaranaike-kumaratunga/ |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=Modern Diplomacy |language=en-US}}</ref>

Her administration also introduced a major package of constitutional reforms, the "2000 Constitution", aimed at abolishing the executive presidency and devolving power to the Tamil people. However, the proposed reforms were never implemented due to the withdrawal of support from the opposition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=TELEGRAPH |first=COLOMBO |date=2013-05-29 |title=Communal Conundrum And Constitutional Calculations |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/communal-conundrum-and-constitutional-calculations/ |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US}}</ref> Her tenure was marred by criticism of her use of presidential powers<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-10-17 |title=Chandrika's Gamble |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/edit-page/Chandrikas-Gamble/articleshow/1660924502.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-09-01 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> and by allegations of corruption within her administration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=TELEGRAPH |first=COLOMBO |date=2018-08-14 |title=Chandrika Confesses ‘Yahapālana Govt Is Corrupt’ |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/chandrika-confesses-yahapalana-govt-is-corrupt/ |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US}}</ref>

The constitutional reform proposals introduced by her government are the subject of the recent documentary NEELAN: UNSILENCED, which chronicles the life and legacy of [[Neelan Tiruchelvam]], one of the principal architects of those proposals.<ref>{{cite web |title=NEELAN: UNSILENCED |url=https://www.neelanunsilenced.com
 |website=Neelan Unsilenced |access-date=November 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=JURIST Staff |title=Unsilenced: Neelan Tiruchelvam’s Fight for Peace Through Power Sharing — An Interview with the Filmmaker |url=https://www.jurist.org/features/2025/08/08/unsilenced-neelan-tiruchelvams-fight-for-peace-through-power-sharing-an-interview-with-the-filmmaker/
 |website=JURIST |date=August 8, 2025 |access-date=November 1, 2025}}</ref>

==Early life and family==
{{main|Bandaranaike family}}
[[File:Sirimavo Bandaranaike 1961 (cropped) 1.PNG|left|thumb|A young Chandrika Bandaranaike with her mother, sister Sunethra, and brother Anura.]]
[[File:CBK and Tissa.gif|thumb|220px|left|Chandrika with Sri Lankan diplomat [[Tissa Wijeyeratne]] in Paris, early 1970s]]
Chandrika Bandaranaike was born on 29 June 1945, at Wentworth in Guildford Crescent, [[Colombo]] to [[Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike]] and [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike|Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga {{!}} 1st Female President of Sri Lanka {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chandrika-Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> The family moved the year later to a mansion at Rosmead Place, Colombo purchased by her paternal grandfather.

Her father S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was an [[Oxford]] educated [[barrister]] who was the [[Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government|Minister of Local Administration]] at the time of her birth. A nationalist and left-wing politician, who had by the time built up a strong following known as the [[Sinhala Maha Sabha]]. He was the only son of [[Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranike]], the [[Sri Lankan Mudaliyars|Maha Mudaliyar]], the chief Ceylonese representative and advisor to the [[Governor of Ceylon]]. Her mother Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike was the daughter of [[Barnes Ratwatte|Barnes Ratwatte Dissawa]], [[Rate Mahatmaya]] of [[Balangoda]] during British colonial rule, who was descended from Ratwatte Dissawa, [[Dissawa]] of [[Matale]], a signatory on behalf of the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] to the [[Kandyan Convention|Kandyan Convention of 1815]].<ref>Skard, Torild "Sirimavo Bandaranaike" and "Chandrika Kumaratunga", 2014</ref>

Kumaratunga was born into the prominent Bandaranaike family and spent her early years at their residence in Rosmead Place, Colombo, as well as at Horagolla Walauwa, her family's ancestral home. Her father, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s early post-independence politics, serving as the country’s first Cabinet Minister of Health and Local Government in 1948. In 1951, he broke away from the governing party to establish the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), shaping the political landscape of the country. Contesting the elections that followed and strengthening the SLFP in the periods between elections; Bandaranaike became the [[Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)|Leader of the Opposition]] in 1952 and prime minister in 1956.<ref>{{Cite web |title=S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike {{!}} Ceylon leader, independence, reformer {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/S-W-R-D-Bandaranaike |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> As prime minister, he was responsible for putting forth significant reforms such as the nationalization of bus companies and the Port of Colombo, a prohibition on caste-based discrimination, the removal of British military bases, and the establishment of diplomatic missions with a number of Communist states. He also made Sinhala the country's only official language, thus marginalizing the Tamils as well as members of the middle-class educated elite whose first language was English.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-23 |title=Solomon Brandaranaike {{!}} Inner Temple |url=https://www.innertemple.org.uk/celebrating-diversity-at-the-bar/solomon-brandaranaike/ |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=www.innertemple.org.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>  He was subsequently assassinated in 1959 when Chandrika was fourteen. Following this in 1959, his widow, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, assumed leadership of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). In the 1960 general election, she led the party to victory, becoming the world's first female prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Clancy |first1=Laura |last2=Austin |first2=Sarah |title=Fewer than a third of UN member states have ever had a woman leader |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/28/women-leaders-around-the-world/ |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=Pew Research Center |date=28 March 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> Therefore, Chandrika was involved in politics from a young age along with her siblings as she was the second of three children in the family. Her elder sister [[Sunethra Bandaranaike]] became a socialite and her younger brother [[Anura Bandaranaike]] joined active politics, going on to become a cabinet minister and [[Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka]] as well as the youngest leader of the opposition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliament of Sri Lanka - News - Handing over of a copy of publication titled 'Anura Bandaranaike – Legacy in the Legislature 1977-2008' |url=https://www.parliament.lk/en/news-en/view/1778?category=6 |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=www.parliament.lk |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==Education==
Chandrika was educated at the [[St Bridget's Convent, Colombo]], and enrolled at the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Aquinas University College]], Colombo to study for a law degree. However, in 1967, she left Aquinas for France without completing her law studies, on a scholarship from the Institute of French Studies. There she spent one year at the [[Institut d'études politiques d'Aix-en-Provence]] following a course in the French language and culture. In 1968, she went on to study at the [[Paris Institute of Political Studies|Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris]] (Sciences Po) graduating with a diploma in political science in 1970. She thereafter enrolled in a PhD program in development economics at the École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris, where she studied from 1970 to 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencespo.fr/international/en/content/alumni|title=Alumni – Sciences Po International|date=4 February 2015|website=www.sciencespo.fr|access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/09/21/local/163295/chandrika-awarded-france%E2%80%99s-highest-national-honour|title=Chandrika awarded France's Highest National Honour|work=Daily News|access-date=22 September 2018|language=en}}</ref> She is fluent in [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]].<ref name="chandrika-bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/566562.stm|title=Chandrika Kumaratunga: Politics in the blood|work=BBC News|date=9 October 2000}}</ref>

==Early political career==
She returned to Ceylon in 1972, where her mother had become prime minister for the second time in 1970 and launched a wide-ranging programme of socialist reform, and faced a violent [[1971 JVP Insurrection (Sri Lanka)|communist insurrection]] in 1971.<ref>President Kumaratunga, www.priu.gov.lk/execpres/bbk.html; Chandrika Kumaratunga, www.clubmadrid.org/en/miembro/chandrika_kumaratunga, both retrieved 7 September 2014</ref> After returning she enrolled in and became active in the SLFP which had been founded by her father and now led by her mother. In 1974, she became an executive committee member of its Women's League.

She was appointed as an Additional Principal Director in the [[Land reforms by country#Sri Lanka|Land Reforms Commission]] (LRC) which acquired nearly 228,000 hectares of private land to the state under the Land Reform Law, which imposed a ceiling of twenty hectares on privately owned land. Leaving the LRC in 1976, she became the chairman of the Janawasa Commission, which established [[collective farm]]s from land acquired by the LRC. Following the defeat of her mother's SLFP government in the [[1977 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|1977 general election]], she left government service and acted as a consultant to the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] of the United Nations till 1979.

===Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya===
In 1978, she married [[Vijaya Kumaratunga]] a leading actor, and [[Lanka Sama Samaja Party|LSSP]] turned SLFP political activist. She supported his election campaign in the by-election in [[Mahara, Sri Lanka|Mahara]] in 1983, where he lost in the recount. She left the SLFP in 1984 when Vijaya Kumaratunga formed his own party the [[Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya]] (SLMP) supporting his political activities against the policies of the mainstream parties. She served as the vice president of the SLMP. This resulted in her falling out with her mother and brother who were leading the SLFP at the time. On 16 February 1988, Vijaya Kumaratunga was [[Assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga|assassinated]] in front of his home in [[Narahenpita]] by gunmen in the presence of his wife. Chandrika Kumaratunga briefly took over the leadership of her husband's party, and formed the [[Socialist Alliance (Sri Lanka)|United Socialist Alliance]] with the [[Communist Party of Sri Lanka]], the [[Lanka Sama Samaja Party]], and the [[Nava Sama Samaja Party]]. Although it was well organized, it lacked votes. Fearing for her life, she soon fled the country in 1988, seeking refuge in the United Kingdom. There she worked for [[World Institute for Development Economics Research]] at the United Nations University.

===Return to politics===
Following the end of the [[1987–89 JVP insurrection|second JVP insurrection]], Chandrika began visiting Sri Lanka in 1990 and re-engaging politics. In September 1991, the governing [[United National Party]] which had been dominating the political landscape was greatly weakened when [[Lalith Athulathmudali]] and [[Gamini Dissanayake]] left the UNP and formed the [[Democratic United National Front]] following a failed impeachment against President [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]]. DUNF soon mobilized the opposition against the Premadasa government. Having returned permanently in 1991, Chandrika rejoined SLFP and got actively involved in politics. In 1993, Athulathmudali and Premadasa were assassinated. Following Athulathmudali's assassination, Chandrika became the principal opposition candidate in the Western provincial council election, in which she was elected as the [[List of Chief Ministers of Western Province|Chief Minister of the Western Province]] on 21 May 1993.

==Premiership (1994)==
With [[Sri Lankan legislative election, 1994|general elections called for in 1994]], she became the de facto leader of the SLFP forming a coalition called the [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]], which contested the general elections. In the election, Chandrika was elected to parliament from the Gampaha District in August 1994. Achieving a slim majority in parliament by gaining the support of the [[Ceylon Workers' Congress]], the PA formed a government with Chandrika as prime minister with her mother as a minister in the cabinet on 19 August 1994.<ref>[https://www.parliament.lk/prime-ministers Prime Ministers]</ref> She also succeeded her mother as the leader of the SLFP. Soon thereafter presidential elections were called for in November.

==Presidency (1994–2005)==
===Presidential Election - 1994===
Prime Minister Kumaratunga backed by the PA contested against Gamini Dissanayake, who was the leader of the opposition backed by the UNP. However, Dissanayake was soon assassinated by a [[LTTE]] suicide bomber and his widow Srima Dissanayake took over his nomination. Chandrika won the [[1994 Sri Lankan presidential election|presidential election in 1994]] gaining 62.28% of the vote. Becoming the first female president of Sri Lanka in November 1994, she appointed her mother to succeed her as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Schaffer |first=Howard B. |date=May 1995 |title=The Sri Lankan Elections of 1994: The Chandrika Factor |journal=Asian Survey |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2645745 |volume=35 |issue=5|pages=409–425 |doi=10.2307/2645745 |jstor=2645745 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Economic policy===
Chandrika Kumaratunga's tenure marked a significant transformation in the party's economic and political orientation. During her presidency from 1994 to 2005, she modernized the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] and the broader Sri Lankan left by advocating a philosophy termed “capitalism with a human face.” This represented a decisive departure from the earlier [[Dirigisme|inward-looking, state-controlled economic policies]] associated with previous SLFP administrations, especially those under her mother, [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]], policies which had led to economic stagnation, low investment, and widespread shortages. Her leadership also helped broaden the political appeal of the SLFP by shifting its traditional socialist stance toward a centrist philosophy that sought to combine free-market mechanisms with social democratic principles. 

She privatized<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 1997 |title=Chandrika's Tight-Rope Walk |url=https://www.himalmag.com/chandrikas-tight-rope-walk/ |website=HIMAL Southasian}}</ref> several state corporations such as [[Sri Lanka Insurance|Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation]], [[Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka|State Distilleries Corporation]], [[Air Lanka]] among others. 

She was fined by the court a sum of three million rupees for unlawful land acquisition and subsequent sale of such land for the Water's Edge development project.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181209100057/https://economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_heads_for_government_shut_down_as_crisis_drags-3-12851.html Sri Lanka heads for government shut down as crisis drags]</ref>

===Civil War===
Early in her term, she made conciliatory moves toward the separatist [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|Tamil Tigers (LTTE)]] in an attempt to end the ongoing [[Sri Lankan civil war|civil war]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Keerawella, Samarajiva |first=Gamini, Rohan Samarajiva |date=February 1995 |title=Sri Lanka in 1994: A Mandate for Peace |journal=Asian Survey |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2645024 |volume=35 |issue=2|pages=153–159 |doi=10.2307/2645024 |jstor=2645024 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==== Sudu Nelum Movement ====
The [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] government led by Kumaratunga launched the ''Sudu Nelum'' Movement, an extensive national public awareness campaign aimed at preparing the public for a peaceful settlement of the ethnic conflict. Named after the “White Lotus,” symbolizing purity, peace, and unity and spearheaded by the then Minister of Telecommunications and Media [[Mangala Samaraweera]], the objective of the SNM was to bridge the gap between the Sinhala and Tamil communities and to create awareness amongst the public of the necessity for power sharing. The Movement organized youth camps across the island and notably held a highly successful camp for Jaffna youth in the south. By mid-1998, the SNM had established 146 branches nationwide (including in Jaffna) and two international branches in Japan, launching its second awareness phase through the “Caravan” (Thawalama): a traveling series of street performances, theatre, exhibitions, and video presentations designed to foster inter-communal understanding. Another major undertaking was the reconstruction of the Jaffna Public Library, destroyed in the 1981 anti-Tamil pogrom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sunday Times Plus Section |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/980308/plus10.html |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=www.sundaytimes.lk}}</ref>

However, the peace talks and negotiations initiatied by the Kumaratunga administration unfolded as the LTTE resumed its violent campaign after violating the cease-fire and sinking two [[Sri Lanka Navy]] gunboats known as SLNS ''Sooraya'' and SLNS ''Ranasuru'' on 19 April 1995.<ref name="hrw2">{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1996/WR96/Asia-08.htm|title=SRI LANKA Human Rights Developments|access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walpola |first=Thilina |date=2025-06-29 |title=CBK at 80: A Trailblazer’s Legacy in Perspective |url=http://island.lk/cbk-at-80-a-trailblazers-legacy-in-perspective/ |access-date=2025-09-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> 

==== War for Peace ====
After the LTTE sabotaged the peace talks, She pursued a military-based strategy against them, dubbed 'War for Peace'. This began what was arguably the most brutal phase of the Civil War, [[Eelam War III]]. The Kumaratunga Administration launched several major offensives such as [[Operation Riviresa]] (1995) which captured the [[Jaffna peninsula]] from the LTTE, [[Operation Sath Jaya]] (1996) which recaptured [[Mullaitivu]] and [[Operation Rana Gosa]] (1999). 

However, the armed forces suffered major set backs at to the [[Battle of Mullaitivu (1996)|Battle of Mullaitivu]] in 1996 and [[1998 Battle of Kilinochchi|Battle of Kilinochchi]] in 1998. Her government thereafter launched [[Operation Jayasikurui]] which soon bogged down with heavy casualties.

===Foreign policy===
[[File:Chandrika Kumaratunga and Colin Powell.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Kumaratunga (center) meeting with former [[U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Colin Powell]] (right)]]
Her government, led by Foreign Minister [[Lakshman Kadirgamar]] increased the recognition and acceptance of Sri Lanka on the international stage, which had been greatly affected by the riots and suppression of insurgency in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2005 |title=Political And Economic Situation of Sri Lanka and its Relations With the EU |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/fd/dsaa20050316_003/dsaa20050316_003en.pdf |website=European Parliament}}</ref> She succeeded in having the [[LTTE]] banned internationally; with the United States and the United Kingdom proscribed the LTTE on 8 October 1997 and 28 February 2001 respectively, thereby depriving that organization of a primary source of funding. Her government re-established formal diplomatic ties with Israel in 2000, which had become a major supplier of weapons to the island.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/000514/news3.html|title=The Sunday Times News/Comment Section|first=Information Laboratories (Pvt.)|last=Ltd.|website=www.sundaytimes.lk|access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref>

===Presidential Election - 1999===
In October 1999, Kumaratunga called an early [[1999 Sri Lankan presidential election|presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/480270.stm | work=BBC News | title=Presidential poll in Sri Lanka | date=20 October 1999 | access-date=28 April 2010}}</ref> She lost vision in her right eye (permanent [[optic nerve]] damage) in an [[Attempted assassination of Chandrika Kumaratunga|assassination attempt]], by the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|Tamil Tigers]], at her final election rally at [[Colombo Town Hall]] premises on 18 December 1999. She managed to defeat [[Ranil Wickremasinghe]] in the election held on 21 December and was sworn in for another term the next day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/574780.stm|title=BBC News – SOUTH ASIA – Kumaratunga re-elected in Sri Lanka|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref>

Her second term saw the civil war aggravating with her government suffering major defeats against the LTTE such as the [[Second Battle of Elephant Pass]] and [[Bandaranaike Airport attack]].

;UNP Government 2001–2004
In December 2001, her party the [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] lost the [[Sri Lanka parliamentary election, 2001|parliamentary election]] to the [[United National Party|UNP]], and her political opponent, [[Ranil Wickremasinghe]], became Sri Lanka's new prime minister. She continued as [[president of Sri Lanka]] although her relationship with the Wickremasinghe government was a strained one.

In February 2002 Wickremasinghe's government and the LTTE signed a permanent [[ceasefire]] agreement, paving the way for talks to end the long-running conflict. In December, the government and the rebels agreed to share power during peace talks in Norway. President Kumaratunga believed Wickremasinghe was being too lenient towards the LTTE, and in May 2003 she indicated her willingness to sack the prime minister and government if she felt they were making too many concessions to the rebels. On 4 November 2003, while Prime Minister Wickremasinghe was on an official visit to the US, Kumaratunga prorogued Parliament and took over Defense, Interior, and Media ministries herself. Her opponents criticized her, calling her behavior dictatorial.<ref name="taking ministries">{{cite news|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/429874|title='Dictatorship' cries after parliament suspended|publisher=ABC Radio Australia|date=2012|access-date=18 August 2016}}</ref>

;UPFA Government 2004–2005
Kumaratunga's PA and the leftist [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] (JVP) formed the [[United People's Freedom Alliance]] (UPFA) in January 2004 and dissolved Parliament. Having won the [[2004 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|election]] held on 2 April 2004, the UPFA formed a government with [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] as prime minister. This marked the first time in history that the JVP became part of a ruling coalition in the Sri Lankan government.<ref name="chandrika-Timeasia">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/sri_lanka/sri_lanka_intvu.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404121838/http://www.time.com/time/asia/2004/sri_lanka/sri_lanka_intvu.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 April 2004|title=Kumaratunga Interview|publisher=Time Asia|date=22 March 2004}}</ref> In June 2005, the JVP defected from Kumaratunga's government over a disagreement regarding a joint mechanism with LTTE rebels sharing foreign aid to rebuild the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|tsunami]]-devastated Northern and Eastern areas of Sri Lanka.<ref name="un-2005">{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/webcast/summit2005/statements15/sri05091515eng.pdf|title=General of the United Nations-15 September 2005}}</ref>

Kumaratunga's six-year term ended that year in 2005. She argued that since the 1999 election had been held one year early, she should be allowed to serve that leftover year stating that she had a secret swearing-in for her second term a year after her formal swearing-in. The Supreme Court rejected this stating that her term ended in 2005.

In the [[2005 Sri Lankan presidential election|presidential election]]s that followed, Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected with 50.29% of the vote and succeeded Kumaratunga as president, leading all 25 parties in the UPFA. Kumaratunga was listed 25th by [[Forbes]] magazine in its "100 most powerful women" in 2005.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/11/E6JK.html|title=Chandrika Kumaratunga, The Most Powerful Women - Forbes.com|website=www.forbes.com|access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref>

==Post-presidency==
[[File:CPA IMG 6636 (17285935432).jpg|right|thumb|220px|Participating in a protest in support of the [[Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka|Nineteenth Amendment]] in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2015]]

In 2006, having remained the leader of the SLFP after leaving office, she "temporally" stepped down from the party leadership citing "continuous harassment she has faced after Mahinda Rajapaksa took office as president" and soon after left the country for self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4b6fe290d.pdf|title=Refugee Review Tribunal|access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref>

Kumaratunga is a member of the [[Council of Women World Leaders]] and the [[Global Leadership Foundation]]. In November 2009, Kumaratunga was appointed to the 12-member board of directors of the [[Club de Madrid]]. She is a frequent panelist and member of the [[Clinton Foundation|Clinton Global Initiative]] and advisor to its annual meeting held every September.

Kumaratunga noted in 2007: "I sincerely tried to reach a political consensus to solve the ethnic question, and tried to introduce a pluralistic constitution that would cater to the political aspirations of the Tamil people without dividing the country.″<ref name="himal southasia">{{cite web|url=http://www.himalmag.com/2007/october_november/chandrika_kumaratunga.html|title=The Queen ponders a return|publisher=HIMAL South Asian|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516145135/http://www.himalmag.com/2007/october_november/chandrika_kumaratunga.html|archive-date=16 May 2008}}</ref> In September 2009, Kumaratunga, on a personal visit to [[Kerala, India]] told reporters: "I too care for my life. Even though the current government is a government of my party I don't feel safe." She continued, "There is an overall lack of freedom and an atmosphere of fear prevails in the country. The basic rights of the people and media freedom are restricted in Sri Lanka."<ref>[http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b24OXJ4a3dT5Am34d0IOo63a03O4BBa4d35TmA4e0dC0Mmcce0ccYdZ2cceHlYS3e Talked to reporters in Sep 2009] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713183525/http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b24OXJ4a3dT5Am34d0IOo63a03O4BBa4d35TmA4e0dC0Mmcce0ccYdZ2cceHlYS3e |date=13 July 2011 }}</ref> In February 2017, Kumaratunga accepted an invitation to join the eminent international Council of Patrons of the [[Asian University for Women]] (AUW) in Chittagong, Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dailynews.lk/2017/03/01/local/109077/cbk-joins-auw-international-council-patrons|title=CBK joins AUW International Council of Patrons|date=1 March 2017|publisher=dailynews.lk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://asianmirror.lk/news/item/22675-cbk-takes-on-advisory-role-empowering-women-at-bangladesh-asian-university-for-women|title=CBK Takes on Advisory Role Empowering Women at Asian University for Women|date=28 February 2017|publisher=dailynews.lk}}</ref>

===2015 Sri Lankan presidential election===
On 21 November 2014 Kumaratunga formally announced her return to active politics at a press conference held by the country's opposition coalition, following weeks of speculation regarding her involvement in the coalition's decision-making.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/56015/fresh-moves-by-cbk|title=Fresh moves by CBK|publisher=DailyMirror Sri Lanka|date=7 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/5121-chandrika-announces-her-return-to-active-politics-after-nine-years|title=Chandrika Announces Her Return To Active Politics After Nine Years|publisher=Asian Mirror|date=21 November 2014}}</ref> She successfully endorsed [[Maithripala Sirisena]] as the common candidate of the opposition in the 2015 presidential election, who defeated [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]]. In the same year, Kumaratunga supported the [[United National Party]] in the general elections to avoid Rajapaksa becoming prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlanka.com/news/i-will-contest-as-the-common-candidate-maithripala-sirisena.html|title=I will contest as the Common Candidate – Maithripala Sirisena ::. Latest Sri Lanka News|date=21 November 2014|access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref> In 2015 she was appointed as the chairperson of office for national unity and reconciliation to overlook national unity in Sri Lanka.<ref name="un.int">{{cite web|url=https://www.un.int/srilanka/news/former-president-chandrika-kumaratunga-chairperson-office-national-unity-and-reconciliation|title=Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Chairperson of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation addresses the High Level Thematic Debate on UN, Peace & Security – Sri Lanka|website=www.un.int|access-date=7 November 2018}}</ref>

===2018 Maldivian presidential election===
In the aftermath of the [[2018 Maldivian presidential election]], it was revealed that Kumaratunga was instrumental in forming the opposition alliance against incumbent President [[Abdulla Yameen]]. Kumaratunga coordinated with opposition leaders in both the Maldives and Sri Lanka, bridging trust between the disputing opposition parties to form a coalition.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Radhakrishnan |first1=R. K. |title=Chandrika Kumaratunga role in Maldivian opposition unity |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/article25598661.ece |website=Frontline |date=26 November 2018 |access-date=9 December 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

===2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis===
During the [[2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis]], Kumaratunga remained silent and later claimed she was not invited to the special convention of the SLFP on 4 December 2018.<ref>[http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/I-was-not-invited-to-SLFP-special-convention-Chandrika-159444.html I was not invited to SLFP special convention: Chandrika]</ref>

===2019 Sri Lankan presidential election===
Kumaratunga endorsed [[Sajith Premadasa]] in the [[2019 Sri Lankan presidential election]].

Following the election, '''Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga''' largely withdrew from active politics but remained vocal on national issues. She resigned as Chairperson of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) in November 2019,<ref>{{cite news |title=Chandrika Kumaratunga steps down as ONUR Chairperson |url=https://colombogazette.com/2019/11/20/chandrika-kumaratunga-steps-down-as-onur-chairperson/ |work=Colombo Gazette |date=20 November 2019}}</ref> shortly after receiving the 2019 Common Ground Award for her contribution to peace and reconciliation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is awarded the 2019 Common Ground Award |url=https://mfa.gov.lk/en/former-president-chandrika-bandaranaike-kumaratunga-is-awarded-the-2019-common-ground-award-for-her-vision-and-commitment-to-peace-and-reconciliation/ |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka) |date=2019}}</ref>

In January 2020, the [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] (SLFP) removed her from the post of [[Attanagalla Electoral District|Attanagalla]] organiser for supporting Premadasa in the 2019 election, contrary to the party’s stance.<ref>{{cite news |title=SLFP removes Chandrika from Attanagalla SLFP Organiser post |url=https://colombogazette.com/2020/01/17/slfp-removes-chandrika-from-attanagalla-slfp-organiser-post/ |work=Colombo Gazette |date=17 January 2020}}</ref> In April 2024, she filed legal action against former President [[Maithripala Sirisena]], seeking to prevent him from acting as SLFP chairman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kumaratunga seeks to oust Sirisena as former Sri Lankan presidents clash |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/kumaratunga-seeks-oust-sirisena-former-sri-lankan-presidents-clash |work=Tamil Guardian |date=23 April 2024}}</ref>

Kumaratunga has continued to comment publicly on political and economic matters and has voiced concerns regarding her personal security and entitlements as a former president.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga questions reduction in her security detail |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2024/11/05/former-president-chandrika-kumaratunga-questions-reduction-in-her-security-detail/ |work=News First |date=5 November 2024}}</ref> In 2025, following the repeal of ex-presidential privileges, she announced plans to vacate her official residence while recovering from hip surgery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chandrika writes to President seeking permission to stay in official residence |url=https://www.thecolombopost.org/2025/09/chandrika-writes-to-president-seeking-permission-to-stay-in-official-residence/ |work=The Colombo Post |date=18 September 2025}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|+ Provincial Election
! scope=col|Year
! scope=col|Constituency
! scope=col|Position
! scope=col colspan="2"|Party
! scope=col colspan="2"|Alliance 
! scope=col|Votes
! scope=col|Result
|-
| '''1993''' || [[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province]] || rowspan=''1'' | [[Chief Minister of Western Province |Chief Minister]] || style="background:{{party color|Sri Lanka Freedom Party}};" | || [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] || style="background:{{party color|People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)}};" | || [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] || align=right|'''{{Nts|307,471}}''' || {{yes|Elected}}
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|+ Parliamentary Election
! scope=col|Year
! scope=col|Constituency
! scope=col|Position
! scope=col colspan="2"|Party
! scope=col colspan="2"|Alliance 
! scope=col|Votes
! scope=col|%
! scope=col|Result
|-
| [[1994 Sri Lankan parliamentary election |1994]] || [[Gampaha District]] || rowspan=''1'' | [[Member of Parliament (Sri Lanka)|Member of Parliament]] || style="background:{{party color|Sri Lanka Freedom Party}};" | || [[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] || style="background:{{party color|People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)}};" | || [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] || align=right|'''{{Nts|464,588}}''' || '''91.27%''' || {{yes|Elected}}
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|+ Presidential Elections
! scope=col|Year
! scope=col|Constituency
! scope=col|Position
! scope=col colspan="2"|Party
! scope=col colspan="2"|Alliance 
! scope=col|Votes
! scope=col|%
! scope=col|+/-
! scope=col|Result
|-
| [[1994 Sri Lankan presidential election |1994]] || rowspan="2"| [[Sri Lanka]] || rowspan="2"| [[President of Sri Lanka | President]] || rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Sri Lanka Freedom Party}};" | || rowspan="2"|[[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]] || rowspan="2" style="background:{{party color|People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)}};" | || rowspan="2"|[[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|People's Alliance]] || align=right|'''{{Nts|4,709,205}}''' || '''62.28%''' || {{steady}} 62.28 || {{yes|Won}}
|-
| [[1999 Sri Lankan presidential election |1999]] || align=right|'''{{Nts|4,312,157}}''' || '''51.12%''' || {{decrease}} 11.16 || {{yes|Won}}
|}
==Personal life==
Chandrika married actor and politician [[Vijaya Kumaratunga]] in 1978, who was [[Assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga|assassinated]] on 16 February 1988, outside his residence in the presence of Chandrika and their two children, then aged five and seven.

Their daughter, Yasodhara Kumaratunga born in 1980 and educated at [[Corpus Christi College, Cambridge]] and at [[St George's, University of London]] became a medical doctor and married Roger Walker a consultant medical practitioner from Dorset.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6417|title=Month old photographs of the wedding of Yasodhara Kumaratunga in London – Asian Tribune|website=www.asiantribune.com|access-date=7 November 2018|archive-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901182640/http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node%2F6417|url-status=dead}}</ref> Their son, Vimukthi Kumaratunga born in 1982 and educated at the [[University of Bristol]] became a veterinary surgeon.

==Honours and decorations==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:30%;"
|-
! style="width:80px;"| Ribbon bar !! Honour !! Date
|-
| [[File:Legion_Honneur_Commandeur_ribbon.svg|80px]]
| [[Commander of the Legion of Honour]]
| 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ft.lk/news/Chandrika-becomes-first-Sri-Lankan-to-be-awarded-France-s-highest-national-order/56-663307|title=Chandrika becomes first Sri Lankan to be awarded France's highest national order {{!}} FT Online|website=www.ft.lk|language=en|access-date=22 September 2018}}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of political families in Sri Lanka]]
* [[President of Sri Lanka]]
* [[Kumaratunga cabinet]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
*[https://youtube.com/watch?v=KQ9jqfVn050 Talking Heads with Chandrika Kumaratunga (Aired: May 2000)]. ''[[NDTV]]''.
*[https://youtube.com/watch?v=PjvR8BNopDo Talking Heads with Chandrika Kumaratunga (Aired November 2003)]. ''[[NDTV]]''.
* [http://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen1001.html The Bandaranaike Ancestry]
* [http://www.worldgenweb.org/lkawgw/gen3060.html The Ratwatte Ancestry]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090215112039/http://www.dailynews.lk/2001/11/10/fea12.html Economic and political agenda of a people's President]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3239821.stm Profile by] [[BBC]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040603183314/http://www.priu.gov.lk/execpres/cbk.html Profile of Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga on Sri Lankan government website]
* [http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/3quarksdaily/2005/04/3qd_monday_musi.html Personal reminiscence] of meeting with the Sri Lankan President by S. Abbas Raza of ''[[3 Quarks Daily]]''.

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{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka]]|years=1994}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Dingiri Banda Wijetunga]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Sri Lanka]]|years=1994–2005}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chairperson of [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]]|years=1998}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumaratunga, Chandrika}}
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