Former Mayor of Colombo and UNP stalwart A.J.M. Muzammil did a volte-face and joined President Maithripala Sirisena by taking up the position as the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was instrumental in giving Muzammil a diplomatic posting as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia. He was previously the Mayor of Colombo.

The Central Environmental Authority comes directly under the purview of President Maithripala Sirisena who also functions as the Minister of Environment. 

Informed political sources said Muzammil had become a confidante of Sirisena. It is still unclear as to whether Muzammil meets the "minimum qualifications" set by President Maithripala Sirisena for heads of state institutions. 

The President had reportedly informed the committee that heads of all state institutions should have a degree from an accepted university as a minimum qualification with relevant professional qualifications and managerial experience

Sirisena yesterday appointed former Provincial Governors Reginald Cooray and Niluka Ekanayake as heads of state institutions.