Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan had a spell at Lancashire

Sri Lanka will take Zimbabwe's place on a tour of England in 2009.

Zimbabwe's visit was cancelled after the England and Wales Cricket Board cut cricketing ties with them because of the political unrest in the country.

The ECB has moved quickly to fill the void for two Test matches and three one-day internationals during April and May 2009.

"We are delighted that Sri Lanka will tour in the early part of next summer," said ECB chief executive David Collier.

"The strong and close relationship that we built up during our recent winter tours to Sri Lanka allowed the ECB, at short notice, to be able to approach Sri Lanka and confirm their availability for the international matches in the early part of next summer."

21-23 April v Leicestershire, Leicester

25-27 April v Essex, Chelmsford

29 April-3 May v England Lions, Derby

7-11 May First Test, Lord's

15-19 May Second Test, Chester-le-Street

21 May v Somerset, Taunton

24 May First one-day international, Bristol

27 May Second one-day international, Edgbaston

30 May Third one-day international, Headingley