Liyanage received his letter of appointment from President Maithripala Sirisena. the President's House sources said. 

 

Liyanage, the leader of the Sri Lanka Labour Party, was a businessman closely affiliated with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

 

He strongly supported former President Rajapaksa until the mid 2015. 

 

He even offered to give former President Mahinda Rajapaksa a house, the famous 'Peacock Mansion', after the latter's defeat at the last Presidential election. 

 

The businessman changed his mind after he was questioned by the Police Financial Crimes Division (FCID) over his wealth and properties.