Their itinerary includes besides cricket, a visit to a tea plantation, several outings at sea and shopping in Kandy.
The tour is a result of negotiations former Sri Lanka umpire turned tour promoter Errol Seneviratne had with the Kent Cricket Board. Seneviratne has been getting down teams from the United Kingdom in a private capacity since 1982 and several young cricketers have benefitted by such tours because it affords them the opportunity to play against foreign opposition.
According to Seneviratne, the tour has the blessings of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board and the opposition the visitors will encounter are against district and regional sides affiliated to the Board.
Sri Lanka vice-captain Aravinda de Silva, who played one season of county cricket for Kent in 1995, has written a forward for the tour brochure welcoming the tourists. De Silva along with Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga are expected to attend some fo the matches played during the tour.
The tour party of 20 comprises:
Justin Aylward, Lawrence Bill, Nick Bluett, Mark Calnan, Sam Dabin, Ben Davies, Paul Edmonds, Gareth Honor, Lewis Jenkins, Simon King, James Lincoln, Robert Owen, Ian Playfoot, Martin Purdy, Daniel Thirkell, James Tredwell.
Officials - Maurice Thunder and Bill Burton (managers), Peter Robinson (coach), Meg Robinson (physiotherapist).
The tour itinerary:
Dec.13 : Arrival,
Dec. 15 : one-day game v Colombo North under 17 district XI at
Colombo,
Dec. 16 : one-day game v Colombo South under 17 district XI at
Colombo,
Dec. 18-19 : two-day game v Gampaha District under 17 XI at
Negombo,
Dec. 21 : one-day game v Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation under 17 XI at
Colts grounds,
Dec. 23-24 : game v Galle Young Cricketers XI (to be confirmed),
Dec. 26-27 : two-day game v Matara Young Cricketer's XI (or two
one-day games),
Dec. 31 : game v Kandy Young Cricketer's at Kandy,
Jan. 2 : Departure.