Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha was suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday (August 7), with the board appointing a tempory replacement of the former Test cricketer ahead of the New Zealand home series. 

Chairman Shammi Silva said former Sri Lanka fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake has been made interim coach with a final decision on the status of Hathurusingha still pending. 

"Hathurusingha will not be involved in this (New Zealand) series. We can’t tell you details because this might end up being a legal issue," Silva told reporters in Colombo.

Sports Minister Harin Fernando, however, had said Hathurusingha will be given until the start of the Test series against Kiwis, beginning August 14, to quit the job himself and respectfully leave his position. 

"If Hathurusingha does not leave, we may have to consider legal action or offer him a different job at the board," Fernando had said then. 

The big change in the backroom staff comes after Sri Lanka's sixth-place finish at the World Cup in UK. 

Hathurusingha had earlier expressed wish to continue in his role till the completion of his tenure in 16 months. 

But Fernando was critical of a reported $40,000 monthly salary paid to Hathurusingha and said Sri Lanka could have hired a foreign coach at half the price.

Fernando said there were three international candidates hoping to replace Hathurusingha and they were asking for lower salaries of between $17,500 to $25,000 a month.

Hathurusingha was appointed in December 2017 after a successful three-year stint as head coach of Bangladesh.

The Kiwis arrive in the Island nation to play two Test matches in Galle and Colombo, as well as a three-match T20I series in Kandy. 

(Inputs from AFP)