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WP, SP voters elect a mixed bag from all walks of life
View(s):Voters of the Western and Southern Provincial Council have elected a mixed group of politicians including young professionals, artistes, journalists and businessmen, while leaving out some long-standing members.
On Friday Prasanna Ranatunga and Shan Wijayalal de Silva were reappointed as WPC and SPC Chief Ministers respectively
On Friday, two former Chief Ministers (CM) of the WPC and SPC, Prasanna Ranatunga and Shan Wijayalal de Silva respectively, were re-appointed to their posts with almost all the same ministers. In the WP, three former ministers Udaya Gammanpila, Upali Kodikara and Nimal Lansa were also re-appointed, while PC Minister Jagath Angage was replaced with Ranjith Somaweera.
In the SPC, former Ministers Chandima Rasaputhra, Dayawansa Ariyathilaka and D.V. Upul were re-appointed, while one more portfolio has been kept vacant as the Communist Party were yet to decide on their nominee.
In the WPC, three newcomers topped the UPFA, UNP and Democratic Party lists with Hirunika Premachandra, S.M. Marikkar and Susil Kindelpitya, from the three parties respectively.
Some 54 PC members who re-contested the PC elections from the two Provinces were defeated – (UPFA -37, UNP -12 and JVP-5).
In addition to Marikkar and Kindelpitiya, Susara Dinal too was a journalist who won the elections, while actors Ravindra Yasas, Udara Ratnayaka are among the actors elected
The WP CM Prasanna Ranatunga was sworn in as Minister for Finance and Planning, Law and Order, Local Government, Land, Education, Manpower, Engineering Services and Information.
Mr. Udaya Gammanpila was appointed Agriculture and Environment Minister, while Nimal Lansa was sworn in as Minister of Transport, Sports and Youth and Women Affairs, Food Supply and Distribution, Cooperatives, Domestic Economic Development, Fisheries and Village Development, Tourism, Investment Promotion Coordination and Livestock Development of the WPC.
Ranjith Somawansa was appointed Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister, while Upali Kodikara was named Power and Energy Minister in the WPC.
Meanwhile, SP CM Shan Wijayalal de Silva was sworn in as Minister Finance and Planning, Law and Order, Local Government and Transport, Health and Indigenous Medicine, Tourism and Engineering Services.
Mr. Rasaputhra was named Highways Minister, while Mr. Ariyathilaka was appointed Irrigation Minister and Mr Upul named Minister of Fisheries, Animal Food Production and Development, Environment and Village Industries, Power and Rural Infrastructure.
