Senior civil servant P.S..M. Charles has been appointed the Governor of the Northern Province. The President's Media Division (PMD) confirmed the appointment, a short while ago.

Charles was previously appointed by the current government as Secretary to the Ministry of Health. Charles has also worked as the Director General of the Customs Department and has earned a reputation as a public servant with a clean track record.

Before Charles' appointment, the government approached former cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan for the governorship of the Northern province. The star cricketer, however, turned down the offer.