Oct 05, Colombo: Former Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S. M. Chandrasena who resigned from his post last month took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a Deputy Minister today.

The Ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) legislator from Anuradhapura district resigned from his ministerial portfolio to pave the way for his brother s. M. Ranjith to become the Chief Minister of North Central Province.

He tendered his resignation since the UPFA Executive Committee has announced that it will not allow members of the same family to hold significant posts simultaneously.

His brother, the current Chief Minister of the North Central Province, faced stiff competition from the former Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake for the post despite receiving the highest number of preferential votes than Dissanayake.

However, with the mediation of the President Ranjith was appointed to the post.