Australian cricketer superstar, Shane Warne, arrives in Sri Lanka today for a four-day tour of the south.

The record breaking spin bowler originally planned to stop over on the island enroute to India where he was scheduled to take part in a fund-raising cricket match.

But when the fund-raiser was postponed he decided to make a special trip "to bring a smile to the faces of the children who have suffered in the wake of the December 26 tsunami."

‘I wanted to take the opportunity to come out this way and see the kids — to hopefully make a difference in some small way. 1 am very keen to do my bit," said Warne.

He will travel south with fellow superstar, Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, affectionately known as Murali throughout the international cricketing community.

‘I am looking forward to the opportunity of working alongside Murali — it really means a lot," Warne said.

The trip south will take him to the Galle Hospital, where he will spend time with the children there. Also on the agenda is a cricket clinic for children and a visit to the hallowed Galle Cricket Ground, which holds many fond memories for the cricketer.

The Galle Cricket Ground was where Warne, in March 2004, won the race with Murali to become the first between the two of them to attain 500 Test wickets.

Warne and Murali will be the guests of honour on Thursday, February 10, at a charity dinner to be held at the Water’s Edge Golf & Country Club, in the capital Colombo. The charities that will benefit from the dinner include the Muralitharan-Vaas-Gunasekera Foundation (MVG) and Sahanaya, The National Council for Mental Health.

Warne flies home on Friday, February Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, Mr. Udaya Nanayakkara, has extended a warm welcome to the Australian cricketer.