Colombo, Jan 4 (IANS): Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed former fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake as the interim coach of the national cricket team for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe.

Ratnayake, who is currently serving as a fast-bowling coach at SLC's high-performance centre, had made his Test debut against New Zealand in March 1983, after making his ODI debut against India in September 1982 at Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, former T20 player Ruvin Peiris has been appointed as the interim batting coach of the national team for the series against Zimbabwe. Peiris was also attached to the high-performance centre as a batting coach, the SLC stated.

In the meantime, the consultant coach of the national teams, Mahela Jayawardene, is to leave for West Indies on January 9 to join the U-19 team, which is in the Caribbean to take part in the ICC U-19 World Cup.

Zimbabwe will arrive in Sri Lanka on January 10 to take play three ODIs on January 16, 18 and 21. The matches will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, under bio-secure bubble.