Colombo: Sri Lanka Cricket is feeling the heat now a days as some of their key players refused to tour England for a Test series due to clash of dates with the cash-rich IPL and to sort this problem Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to meet the board officials and cricketers.

The players have contended that they have already committed to play for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2009.

''I will call the two sides and look into the matter,'' Rajapaksa said earlier this week.

He said he would take up the matter after he returned from his US visit later this month.

The Sri Lankan President added he would explore the ''possibility of adjusting the dates so that the issue is sorted out amicably.'' SLC chief Arjuna Ranatunga had said the tour of England would secure a payment of USD two million for the board which would help the governing body improve its financial position ''and will go a long way in assisting the development of the game of cricket in this country.'' The SLC chief said to accommodate a request from the IPL, the SLC has agreed to cancel a proposed tour by India to Sri Lanka in 2009 at a loss of USD 14 million.

UNI

Tags: sri lanka, slc, sri lankan tour of england, ipl, mahinda rajapaksa, arjuna ranatunga.