Harini Amarasuriya

National People’s power lawmaker Harini Amarasuriya, 54, signs after taking oath for the post of Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister.

Sri Lanka’s new leader appoints the first female prime minister in 24 years

  • The last woman to serve as prime minister, the second most-powerful position after the president, was Sirimavo Bandaranaike
  • She was also the world’s first female head of government when she took up the post in 1960, and served three terms until 2000
By AP ·