UPFA candidate and former Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake is most likely to once again be appointed the new Chief Minister for the North Central Province despite receiving less preferential votes than S.M. Ranjith at the recently concluded Provincial Council Elections, SLFP sources stated.

S.M. Ranjith of the UPFA received the highest number of preferential votes in the Anuradhapura District with 105,232 votes beating other UPFA candidate Berty Premalal Dissanayake who received 95,027.

However, SLFP sources claimed that Premalal will still be appointed as the Chief Minister ahead of Ranjith.

Premalal served formerly as the Chief Minister to the North Central Province while controversy surrounded his name before and during the elections held recently.

Three stores belonging to the North Central Provincial Council and used for election activities by UPFA candidate Berty Premalal Dissanayake were sealed by officials of the Elections Department.

The stores located in Anuradhapura had allegedly housed goods to be offered to voters by the former Chief Minister of the North Central Province.

It is said that the stores had contained agricultural equipment to be distributed to public, in a manner that would violate election laws.

Water motors and water filters baring the former Chief Minister’s election propaganda were found stored inside, Anuradhapura District Elections Commissioner said.

The former North Central Province Chief Minister and 12 other state officials were also recently issued notice by the North Central Provincial High Court under charges of misusing state property.

However, the petition was later dismissed by court.