 Sumathipala is back in charge after a two-year break |
Between England's last tour of Sri Lanka in 2001 and the current trip, cricket politics on the island has attracted plenty of headlines. BBC Sport looks back at the long-running feuds surrounding Sri Lanka's cricket board and its president Thilanga Sumathipala.
2001
27 March
Sri Lanka complete a 3-0 one-day series whitewash over England, gaining some revenge for a come-from-behind 2-1 Test series victory by the tourists.
Ticket sales set a new Sri Lankan record, the tour bringing in �320,000.
But off the field there is already trouble as Dammika Ranatunga, brother of World Cup-winning captain Arjuna, is dismissed by Sumathipala following charges of financial irregularities.
29 March
Sumathipala is sacked by Sri Lanka's sports minister and the entire Board is suspended while financial irregularities are investigated.
The investigations will take two years, without finding any evidence, while an interim committee takes charge.
31 December
Nine days after they are forced to resign by a newly-elected government sports minister Johnston Fernando, four of the six interim committee members are reinstated.
2002
January
Fernando steps in again, ordering the selectors to reinstate vice-captain Marvan Atapattu after he was rested for the second Test against Zimbabwe.
 Sri Lanka celebrate victory in the Asian Test Championship |
10 March 2002
Sanath Jayasuriya's team put the uncertainty at home behind them to clinch the Asian Test Championship with an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Lahore. 2 April
After their original term runs out, a new, 10-man interim committee is set up to run Sri Lankan cricket, including former Test players Roshan Mahanama and Sidath Wettimuny.
14 May
In the run-up to Sri Lanka's tour to England, Mahanama becomes the fifth member of the committee to resign over a government decision to send Sumathipala to an ICC meeting in London.
2003
31 March
World Cup-winning coach Dav Whatmore is told his contract will not be renewed.
But the Board fails to line-up a successor, leading to a three-month search, spanning two Test series, before Australian John Dyson accepts the post.
1 April
Guy de Alwis becomes third chairman of selectors to resign during sports minister Fernando's tenure after another row over team selection.
He is replaced by former Test batsman Aravinda de Silva.
11 April
After a month of lobbying, sports minister Fernando allows Jayasuriya to resign as captain.
Hashan Tillekaratne takes over as skipper of the Test team, while Marvan Atapattu leads the one-day side.
6 June
The Board, now named Sri Lanka Cricket, is re-instated and Sumathipala beats Arjuna Ranatunga by a landslide in the presidency election. 29 November
In the week before England begin a Test series in Sri Lanka, Sumathipala is forced to deny newspaper allegations of passport fraud.
22 December
Police begin an inquiry after �6,500 is found in a room used by batsman Marvan Atapattu during the Kandy Test against England.
2004
3 January
Officers raid Sri Lanka Cricket offices as part of the ongoing inquiry into SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala.
MMIX
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