Instead, they will concentrate wholly on trying to defend the World Cup one day title by participating in a series of one-day tournaments leading up to the World Cup.
Cricket's seventh World Cup one-day competition is scheduled to be played in England in May next year and Sri Lanka are taking appropriate steps to successfully defend it, having won it so handsomely at Lahore on March 17, 1996 by beating Australia in the final.
In that context, the tour to England starting next month is of vital importance. The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) have already negotiated successfully with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to increase their quota of players from the original 15 to 18, allowing for three potential one-day specialists to be included in the squad.
These cricketers will play in the one-day side games leading up to the Triangular tournament involving Sri Lanka, England and South Africa.
Sri Lanka are due to leave for England on July 8, a day after the Singer Nidahas trophy tournament final.
The BCCSL Executive Committee approved the appointment of Ranjit Fernando as manager of the Sri Lanka team to England. Fernando took over the role for the Test series against New Zealand and for the Singer Nidahas triangular one-day tournament which is scheduled to get underway tomorrow. Roy Dias, who is on contract with the BCCSL will continue as coach.