May 18, Colombo: New Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan met the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters today in Kandy.

Under tight security, the new Chief Minister first visited the sacred Dalada Maligawa, offered flowers there, and later inspected the outside of the Maligawa where the LTTE had once bombed and damaged.

He also visited the Maligawa Museum and seen larger pictures showing the damaged Maligawa. He expressed his condolences about the damaged caused by the LTTE blast.

Yesterday he visited the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya.

Last Friday Mr. Chandrakanthan took oaths as the Eastern Province Chief Minister before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat.