Sept 15, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to offer the post of Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council to a Muslim councilor, Sinhala newspaper The Lankadeepa reported.

The government has taken this decision considering that the majority of the councilors elected to the Eastern Provincial Council are Muslims.

Among the 35 councilors elected to the Eastern Provincial Council, there are 15 Muslims, 12 Tamils and eight Sinhalese.

The newspaper reported that the government is considering Nazeer Ahmed elected from Batticaloa district in case if the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) extends support to the government to form the Eastern PC administration and to a councilor elected from Ampara district if SLMC does not offer its support.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to offer a ministerial portfolio to the former Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan.