A function is now in progress where the chief ministers and other ministers of the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Province are taking oaths of office.

The swearing in began before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo at 11.20 am.

Sabaragamuwa chief minister Mahipala Herath and Ministers Janaka Wakkumbura, Ranjith Soyza, Srilal Wickramasinghe and G. Karunapala were due to be sworn in.

Meanwhile, Lalith Dissanayake, who was due to be appointed a minister, will fill the parliamentary vacancy created following the resignation of leftist JVP´s MP Anuruddha Polgampola.

Berty Premalal Dissanayake, who has already taken oaths as Chief Minister of the NCP, is also present at the function.

The NCP´s other ministers Punchi Banda Ratnayake, Ananda Sarath Kumara, S.M. Ranjith, H.B. Semasinghe will be sworn in today.

Some of these minister-elects have not polled the highest number of preferential votes after their respective chief ministers.

The ruling UPFA had earlier said that seniority and experience would be given priority over placement in the preferential votes list.