Hemasiri Fernando has been appointed President Maithripala Sirisena's Chief of Staff today. 

In addition to President Sirisena's Chief of Staff post, Fernando will also function as the Chairman of People's Bank. 

A former sportsman, Fernando for a long time headed the National Olympic Committee and was involved in the sports administration. 

He has also headed Sri Lanka Telecom and Airport and Aviation limited. 

At one point, Fernando was a Secretary to former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bamdaranaike. 

Fernando succeeds Dr. I.K. Mahanama who has been remanded for accepting a Rs. 20 million bribe. 

The position remained vacant since Mahanama's arrest by the Bribery Commission.

Interestingly, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath too held the top post of People's Bank while working as the Chief of Staff of the President.