Mr. Shan Wijayalal De Silva took oaths as the Chief Minister of Southern Province, before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, this morning (Oct. 29).

Mr. Silva also received the portfolios of Minister of Finance and Planning, Justice and Law, Transport, Drainage and Water Supply, Power, Engineering Services, Health, Indigenous Medicine, and Local Government.

The other Southern Provincial Councilors who received portfolios were; Hemal Gunasekara Wickremarathna, who received portfolios for Land and Land Development, Irrigation, Highways, Media and Estate Infrastructure.

V. K Indika received portfolios for Education and Culture, Trade and Cooperate Development, Food supply and Distribution.

Dayawansha Ariyathilake received portfolios for Sports and Youth Affairs, Rural Development, Economic and Social Welfare, Children and Development, Woman's Affairs, Housing and Construction, Human Resources and Employment.

Wijayabindu Weerasinghe received portfolios for Agriculture and Agrarian Development, Fisheries and Environment, and Animal Development.