New chief ministers sworn in for North Central, Sabaragamuwa provinces

New chief ministers for Sri Lanka’s North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces were sworn-in before President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

Maheepala Herath as Chief Minister for Sabaragamuwa Province and S.M. Ranjith as Chief Minister for North Central Province took oaths from the President. Both chief ministers have secured the highest number of preferential votes at the provincial elections held on 8 September.

However, the former chief minister of the North Central Province Berty Premalal Dissanayake contested the expected appointment of S. M. Ranjith. The crisis was resolved with the mediation of the President during a meeting between the President and the elected provincial councilors. Dissanayake was later sworn in as a member as well separately.