By Oliver Brett BBC Sport Online

Photo Gallery: See Perera's action in pictures

Ruchira Perera first came to England's attention on a tour match in Matara in Ferburay 2001.

The bowler, clearly keen to make a big impression, became involved in a heated discussion with Craig White while representing the Board President's XI.

Perera advanced towards White after the Yorkshireman had played and missed at one of his deliveries, pointing at the player and then his bat before returning to his mark

Looking back on the event now, White is happy to forgive a fellow professional simply going about his business.

Craig White had a brief spat with Perera

"It was just a cricketing incident," he said. "He was a competitive young cricketer just trying to do his best. He bowled quite well and really aggressively."

During that match, nothing untoward was suggested about the left-armer's action, White explained.

He added: "I haven't really seen what's gone on in the Test match, and as for my own experiences all I can say is you can't really look at the bowler's arm - you have to concentrate on the ball."

Former Sri Lankan opener Sidath Wettimuny insists that Perera's action has never been called into doubt.

"This is the first time this has come up," he told BBC Sport Online.

"He hasn't had such a problem when he has bowled earlier. We have had Darryl Foster with us who's a biomechanics specialist.

"He cleared Shoaib Akhtar and has not rung any alarm bells as far as Perera's concerned.

Perera's action does not look entirely ideal

"It is certainly upsetting for the Sri Lankan camp and it must be very surprising for them to hear these allegations about Perera's bowling."

Wettimuny, who recently resigned from the interim committee running Sri Lankan cricket, has been at Lord's for most of the Test match, and has largely been impressed with Perera's performance.

The bowler took three wickets - including the crucial ones of Michael Vaughan and Graham Thorpe - as England began their first innings slump.

"I think he's bowled well," said Wettimuny. "He struggled with the cold in the first part of the tour when we had a lot of bad weather and everyone was nervous abuot the form of the team as a whole."

And, like White, Wettimuny is not unduly fussed by Perera's zealous body language.

"I think it's good to see as long as you don't get carried away and do the wrong thing. He's a very positive sort of chap and fast bowlers need to be a little enthusiastic to do their job.

"But we always hoped he would be a good prospect and we hope that his improvement will continue."

Perera is a most enthusastic cricketer

Perera's long-term future depends on a number of factors.

First, he must establish a regular place in the side, and that is no easy matter, especially as Chaminda Vaas's favoured new-ball partner, Dilhara Fernando, is out of the side injured.

Secondly, Sri Lanka will not often pick four seam bowlers to operate together in a Test match.

And thirdly, and one hopes this is not the case, it remains a possiblity that his action may have to be re-modelled.

Last year, another Sri Lankan seamer called Perera was reported to the International Cricket Council.

Suresh Perera was the bowler who on that occasion was under the spotlight, and Sri Lanka have also had the great Muttiah Muralitharan infamously no-balled in Australia in 1996.

As for Ruchira, time will tell if anything is untoward about his action.

Former Sri Lanka manager Ajith Jayasekara insists there is nothing controversial about his delivery.

"I can tell you that he played a few Test matches during my tenure as manager and there was not a slightest hint of anything suspicious then," he said.

"What baffles me is how come some media people have found his action suspect, when no single official has done so."