Historical clue formulations

• First country to elect a female prime minister (1960) — 2026-09-04
• The "teardrop of India" — 2022-02-13
• Country once known as Ceylon — 2019-01-21
• So-called "teardrop of India" — 2015-03-20
• Where rupees are spent — 2009-06-02
• Ceylon, now — 2007-08-08
• Country that styles itself a "democratic socialist republic" — 2007-01-28
• It means "resplendent land" in Sinhalese — 2003-03-08
• Land once known as Serendip — 2002-07-19