Rumesh Ratnayake appointed Sri Lanka interim coach

"Hathurusingha will not be involved in this (New Zealand) series," Sri Lanka Cricket board chairman Shammi Silvatold reporters in Colombo. "We can't tell you details because this might end up being a legal issue."

Sri Lanka Sports Minister Harin Fernando had hoped that Hathurusingha would quit voluntarily by the start of Sri Lanka's home Test series against New Zealand. "If Hathurusingha does not leave, we may have to consider legal action or offer him a different job at the board," he said.

Ratnayake is a former international cricketer who played 23 Tests and 70 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1982 and 1993. He has held several administrative positions within Sri Lankan cricket and the Asian Cricket Council, and served as head coach for a time from August 2011. Since 8 August 2017, he has served as Sri Lanka's fast bowling coach.

The first of two Tests between Sri Lanka and New Zealand begins in Galle on Wednesday, 14 August.