Cabraal succeeds businessman Sunil Mendis who relinquished his post recently for personal reasons, the statement added.
Mendis, a former chairman of the diversified Hayleys Group, steps down on June 30, after completing three out of his six-year term.
Cabraal's family business Cabraal Consulting currently runs Capital Reach Holdings Ltd., a local financial services company.
A former member of the main opposition United National Party, Cabraal crossed over to back Rajapakse during this November 2005 presidential campaign. He subsequently left all his private-sector positions to serve under Rajapakse, who also wears the cap as the island’s finance minister.