Shirani Bandaranayake is a prominent Sri Lankan lawyer and politician who served as the first female Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. Appointed in 2011, she held the position until her controversial impeachment in 2013, which sparked significant debate about judicial independence in the country. Born on March 26, 1951, Bandaranayake has a distinguished academic background, having earned her law degree from the University of Colombo. Throughout her career, she has been involved in various legal reforms and has advocated for women's rights and social justice in Sri Lanka.