Mr. Cooray was UNP Gen. Sec. under President Premadasa

Mr. Cooray is initially to assist the ministry in promoting Buddhist pilgrim travel to India, a press release issued by the Tourism ministry said.

The role will later be extended to cover SAARC, South East and East Asia, it said.

The appointment was made by minister Milinda Moragoda in consultation with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

CMC elections

The former minister under United National Party (UNP) led governments was the General Secretary of the UNP during President R Premadasa’s tenure.

Mr. Cooray who has been living in Australia for a while returned to the country to contest the Colombo Municipal Council elections.

But his nomination papers were rejected leading the UNP to launch an investigation against Milinda Moragoda, who promoted Mr. Cooray’s candidacy.

Mr. Cooray later supported the independent group that joined the government after winning the elections.

Sirisena Cooray is a close relative of the leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Somawansa Amerasinghe.