Prasanna Ranatunga, who bagged the highest number of votes (186,000) at the Western Provincial Council election representing the Gampaha District, will be sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 4, The Island learns.

The two bonus seats that the UPFA got as the winner in the WP would be split between the Gampaha district and the Kalutara district.

UPFA General Secretary Susil Premjayanth addressing a press conference in Colombo yesterday said President Mahinda Rajapaksa will select the Chief Minister on the basis of the number of preferential votes polled by successful candidates, their seniority and other factors.