England officials happy with security arrangements

Post-Tsunami reconstruction of the Galle Stadium would be completed in time for the third Test match against England in December © Getty Images Enlarge

An ECB delegation comprising John Carr, the board's cricket director, and security manager Reg Dickson are presently in Sri Lanka making a security assessment ahead of England's tour of Sri Lanka, which starts in the final week of September.

Sri Lanka Cricket tour organizing committee chairman Shibley Vilcassim said the delegation had expressed great satisfaction over the security arrangements made for the tour. "We had a meeting at the SLC headquarters on Friday where they met representatives of the bomb squad, Sri Lanka army, ministry security division and heads of all regional police stations where the matches are to be played."

The delegation also visited the match venues and hotels where the England team will be staying. Games are scheduled to be played in Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy and Galle.

Vilcassim said that they would have a final meeting on Monday. Also associated with the meeting were SLC CEO Duleep Mendis and SLC security coordinator Shane Dullewe.

The ECB's visit comes against a backdrop of escalating violence on the island following the collapse of a ceasefire between the government and rebel forces. The UK's foreign office advises tourists to take extreme caution, warning "there is a high threat from terrorism ... terrorist attacks occur throughout the country, including in areas and on travel routes popular with tourists."

England head to Sri Lanka for a five-match one-day series straight after the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa. They will then return at the end of November for a series of three Tests.

Vilcassim also confirmed that work on the Galle Stadium would be completed in time for the third Test.