Farveez Maharoof is expected to be out for four to five weeks © Getty Images

Farveez Maharoof, the Sri Lanka allrounder, has injured his left ankle and will miss the three home Tests against England next month.

"Farveez had a scan yesterday and he's got stress fracture in his ankle," Jayawardene said. "He'll be definitely out of the England Test series.

"He'll be out for at least four to five weeks, it could be a bit more than that depending on how he will feel especially because he is a fast bowler and he needs to put his weight on that ankle."

Maharoof missed the second day's play in Hobart due to the injury and has gone wicketless so far in the two Tests against Australia.

But he took eight wickets in the two tour games ahead of the Tests. In the three one-dayers he played against England in October, Maharoof took 10 wickets at 9.50.