Former eastern province CM made Rajapaksa adviser

Chandrakanthan, who held the eastern chief minister's position was replaced by a Muslim today.

The ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition's Najeeb A Majeed was sworn in as the chief minister ending a week of stalemate over the appointment.

This was following all contesting parties in the September 8 election failed to garner a working majority in the 37 member assembly.

Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan an ex-member of the LTTE leads Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), a breakaway faction of the separatist group.