The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has named Sanath Jayasuriya as the head coach of Sri Lanka men’s national side, a position that will remain until the end of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Although he had been serving as their interim coach since early July, he was still their coach. However, after making an impression in the position, Sri Lanka Cricket gave him a full-time position.

Over the past few months, Sri Lanka has defeated England away in a Test match for the first time in ten years, won their first bilateral ODI series against India in 27 years, and most recently thrashed New Zealand 2-0 at home in a Test match that offers the team a chance to advance to the World Test Championship final. All of these achievements have come under Jayasuriya’s reign.

“The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket made this decision taking into consideration the team’s good performances in the recent tours against India, England, and New Zealand, where Jayasuriya was in charge as the ‘interim head coach’,” the board statement said.

Jayasuriya is embarking on his first significant coaching endeavor. In multiple interviews, he has stated that he sees his main responsibility as establishing an atmosphere that allows players to be free to act as they like. It seems that the players have taken to his methods well; a number of them have publicly praised him.

Prior to receiving a two-year ban for violating the ICC’s anti-corruption policy, Jayasuriya was the team’s top selector. He had served in that capacity twice before. His first job as head coach will be the impending limited-overs matches against West Indies, in Dambulla and Pallekele.

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