Sept 24, Colombo: New chief ministers for Sri Lanka's North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces were sworn-in before President Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday at the Temple Trees.

Maheepala Herath as Chief Minister for Sabaragamuwa Province and S.M. Ranjith as Chief Minister for North Central Province took oaths from the President a short while ago.

Both chief ministers have secured the highest number of preferential votes at the provincial elections held on September 8.

However, the former chief minister of the North Central Province Berty Premalal Dissanayake contested the expected appointment of S. M. Ranjith.

The crisis was resolved with the mediation of the President yesterday during a meeting between the President and the elected provincial councilors.