Sirimavo Bandaranaike becomes the world's first woman prime minister.
On July 21, 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), making her the first woman in the world to hold the office of prime minister. Her appointment marked a significant milestone in global politics, as her victory shattered the political glass ceiling, challenging the male-dominated political arena. Her concurrently assuming the key portfolios of Defence and External Affairs further underscored her groundbreaking achievement.