Security Dimension of the Foreign Policy of Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Abstract

The Foreign Policy decision-making is considered to be one of the greatest vital areas of a state to achieve its national interests. It is based on full of political activities of the state. According to Huge Gibsons “Foreign policy is a well-rounded comprehensive plan based on knowledge and experience for conducting the business of government with rest of the world. It is aimed at promoting and protecting the interests of the nations.” Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the first female prime minister in the world in 1960 and served as the Prime Minister for three times during 1960-1965, 1970-1977 and 1994-2000. This research describes her efforts to transform the Indian Ocean into a Peace Zone, through the political maturity. In addition to that her model was able to win the Kachchathivu Island. With the friendly relations with India she got the willing from India to redirect the Tamil immigrants. India automatically involved this Tamil emigrants’ issue because majority of Tamils living in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Indian leadership was able to show her concern from time to time whenever the situation took a grave turn. Neighborhood diplomacy promoted at normally creating a climate of confidence essential for good concentration on the developmental priorities during Mrs. Gandhi’s period. This research will explain the security dimension of Sirimavo and her foreign policy will be analyzed by the rational actor model and Non-Aligned concept. This research will be based on both qualitative and quantitative data. Both primary and secondary data will be utilized for this research. During her term of office focused on maintaining a friendly and non-aligned foreign policy with regional and extra regional governments. When she was appointed as the prime minister, Sri Lanka was politically and economically unstable. She also called for making the Indian Ocean a peace zone and all the nations should be banned the nuclear weapons. She usually stated that she concerned on the security of her own state and the world as a woman and a mother.