Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was born on June 29, 1945 and became the fifth President of Sri Lanka. But she remained as the fourth politician to hold office as Executive president. Her tenure lasted from November 12, 1994 until November 19, 2005. She became the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party until 2005.

Chandrika's father, named Solomon Bandaranaike, was a former government minister before becoming the Prime Minister. But unfortunately, he was assassinated in 1959 when Chandrika was only fourteen. Chandrika's mother, named Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was the world's first woman Prime Minister. She was elected in 1960 right after her husband's assassination.

Chandrika stayed at the University of Paris for five years studying political science. She then became an active member of the school's Student Revolution in the year 1968. She is very fluent in f English, Sinhala and French. Upon Chandrika's return to Sri Lanka in 1974, she became an Executive Committee Member of the Woman's League after taking up political education in SLFP. She was also an additional Principal Director of the Land Reform Commission (LRC) in Sri Lank from the year 1972 until 1976. And soon became the Chairman of the Janawasa Commission from 1976 until 1979 and acted as an Expert Consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

In 1978, Chandrika got married to a movie star turned politician named Vijava Kumaratunga, but he was assassinated in the year 1988. After her husband's death, she used the name Kumaratunge. On August 19, 1994, Chandrika was elected Prime Minister of People's Alliance (PA) political party and soon became President shortly after in November of the same year. Acquiring the presidency position, she gave an end to the 17-year term of the UNP rule. In October 1999, an early presidential election was held since Chandrika had lost her right eye in an assassination attempt.