Women in the Sri Lankan Parliament

• Top left: Adeline Molamure became the first female legislator in Sri Lanka in 1931.
• Top right: Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female Prime Minister in 1960.
• Bottom left: Chandrika Kumaratunga became the second female Prime Minister and later the first female President of Sri Lanka in 1994.
• Bottom right: Harini Amarasuriya became the third female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 2024.

Women have served in the Parliament of Sri Lanka since 1931 and have been represented in all successive parliaments to date. The first woman representative was Adeline Molamure, elected to the State Council, daughter of J. H. Meedeniya and wife of Alfred Francis Molamure, both State Councillors.

Women in the Sri Lankan parliament, however small in numbers, have held high positions in Parliament and the cabinet. Three women have become Prime Minister and one has gone on to become the President of Sri Lanka. Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female head of government on 21 July 1960, holding the post for a non-consecutive 17 years. Her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, became Sri Lanka's first modern female head of state and president.^[1]

The 17th Parliament of Sri Lanka, the current parliament elected in 2024, has the highest number of female legislators with 22 female MPs.^[2][3][4]

Number of women in the Sri Lankan Parliament (1931–2024):

This is a complete list of women who have served as members of the successive Sri Lankan Legislatures, ordered by seniority. This list includes women who served in the past and who continue to serve in the present.^[4]

• Parliament of Sri Lanka
• List of female cabinet ministers of Sri Lanka

• Lady Members of Parliament