S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was a prominent Sri Lankan politician and the fourth Prime Minister of Ceylon, serving from 1956 until his assassination in 1959. He was the founder of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and played a crucial role in promoting the Sinhala Only Act, which aimed to establish the Sinhala language as the sole official language of the country. Born on February 8, 1899, Bandaranaike was educated at Royal College, Colombo, and later at Oxford University. His political career was marked by efforts to address social inequalities and promote nationalism. His legacy continues to influence Sri Lankan politics today.