Jayasuriya handed suspended four-match ban for dissent

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been given a suspended four-match ban following his show of dissent during another day marred by umpiring controversies in the Second Test against England at Kandy.

Jayasuriya was unable to contain his emotions when given out by umpire BC Cooray, a dismissal which left Sri Lanka 2/2, still 88 runs adrift of England's first innings score.

The Sri Lankan captain was caught by Graham Thorpe in the slips but the batsman felt it was a bump ball, a claim backed up by television replays.

Cooray consulted square leg umpire Rudi Koertzen to see if Thorpe had grounded the ball and then indicated his decision to Jayasuriya. While walking off the field Jayasuriya stopped halfway, continued again and then threw his helmet over the boundary rope.

Match referee Hanumant Singh imposed a suspended sentence of two Test matches and two one-day internationals for a period of six months and fined Jayasuriya 60% of his match fee.

Singh also confirmed he would make further inquiries about an incident involving Kumar Sangakkara and Michael Atherton which occurred after Jayasuriya's dismissal. The referee is expected to make an announcement tomorrow.