He will take over the Sri Lankan side on Dec. 20, when they face India in first of three Twenty20 internationals.
"Sri Lanka Cricket today announced that subsequent to successful discussions, and upon the unanimous approval of the Executive Committee on 6th December 2017, Chandika Hathurusingha will be appointed as the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka National Team, and will assume duties from the 20th December 2017," the board said in a statement.
Hathurusingha played 26 tests for Sri Lanka between 1991-99 and scored 1,274 runs at an average of 29.62.
He became head coach of the Sri Lanka A side in 2006 before being appointed as the national team assistant coach under Trevor Bayliss in 2009.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
