Jeevan Mendis, 35, has been brought back into the national T20 for the two-match series against Bangladesh, nearly four and half years after he played his last T20 international. His inclusion, though surprising, comes in the wake of some impressive performances for Tamil Union in the ongoing Premier League Cricket Tournament.

The selectors have also included two rookie seamers in Asitha Fernando (20) and Shehan Madushanka (22) in the 15-man squad which also features the likes of spinners Jeffrey Vandersay and Amila Aponso, and seam-bowling allrounder Dasun Shanaka.

Dinesh Chandimal, who himself has not played a T20 in over a year will lead the side in the absence o Angelo Mathews.

T20 squad: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Shehan Madushanka, Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Jeevan Mendis, Asitha Fernando