President Mahinda Rajapaksa is of the view that the people have, through their decision at the recent provincial polls, endorsed the programme of his government. The president was speaking in Colombo today (Sept. 04th) at the swearing in of ministers of the newly elected North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils. The oath-taking began at 11.45 am at the Presidential Secretariat, with Mahipala Herath swearing in as chief minister of Sabaragamuwa. He will also be in charge of Justice and Peace, Finance and Planning, Local Government, Education and Information Technology, Sports, Power, Housing and Construction, Cooperatives, Commerce and Food, Public Transport and Estate Welfare subjects. Other ministers of the province - Lalith Dissanayake, Janaka Wakkumbura, Thirimadura Ranjith de Soyza and G.M. Karunapala - were also sworn in. Berty Premalal Dissanayake, as chief minister of NCP, and his ministers then took oaths of office. Mr. Dissanayake will also be Minister of Justice and Peace, Economic Promotion, Information, Education, Local Government, Irrigation, Land, Environment, Transport, and Health and Power. Others who took oaths as ministers of the province are K.H. Nandasena, H.B. Semasinghe, H.M. Peshala Jayaratne and R.M.P.B. Ratnayake
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