Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga reflects on balancing state duties and motherhood

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga recently spoke at a public event regarding the challenges she faced in balancing state responsibilities with motherhood.

Recalling that she worked dedicatedly for about 15 hours a day—from 7:30 AM after sending her children to school until late into the night—she stated that she acted with firm determination to achieve her difficult targets.

She pointed out that despite financial constraints, she fulfilled her household duties by selling land and carefully managing domestic accounts, while relying on skilled and efficient officials to assist with government affairs.

Significantly, she highlighted that apart from a single trusted domestic worker, she did not give official appointments to any relatives, emphasizing that all appointments were made strictly on merit and experience.

Expressing pride that her children received the highest level of education and continue to live lives free from corruption or controversy, the former President added that her early education at a convent school and the example set by her parents helped shape her life. She emphasised that through proper organisation of professional and personal responsibilities, it is possible to instil correct values in children and raise them as good citizens even while managing a demanding career.