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New book on Sirimavo Bandaranaike brings out rare photos of late leader’s decades of public life Source:FT A new coffee table book released this week contains rare archival photographs from the long and illustrious public life of Sirimavo Bandaranaike who made history in July 1960 by being elected the world’s first woman Prime Minister. “SIRIMAVO: Steering the Destiny of a Nation” presents a pictorial biography of the late stateswoman who blazed new trails in national and international spheres. The book has nearly 300 photographs, sourced from various collections, including the Bandaranaike Museums, the National Archives and the United Nations Archives. Many photos have never been in the public domain before. A concise text places the photographs in their historical context by summarising information on her political reforms and the many challenges she faced – including the abortive military coup in January 1962, and the armed youth uprising in April 1971. It ...