Shane Warne is heading to Sri Lanka next week to fulfil the promise he made to his great rival Muthiah Mularitharan.

The Hampshire captain will make a four-day visit to Galle - the scene of his 500th Test scalp last year.

Test cricket's greatest wicket-taker will then join forces with Mularitharan, who is second on the all-time list, to distribute food and clothing to the many Sri Lankans who are homeless and starving in the tsunami-ravaged country.

"Sri Lanka was my first overseas tour in 1992 and, to this day, ranks as the best tour I have been involved with as an Australian play- er," Warne said.

"Galle is the scene of one of the highlights of my career - taking my 500th Test scalp there - and, to see what has happened to the ground, but more importantly the people, is absolutely devastating." Warne will also make an appearance at a local hospital and attend a charity dinner in Colombo.

He is desperate to play in a one-day match for the World XI against an Asian XI in India in April, with the proceeds going to tsunami victims.

But with the Ashes series taking centre stage in July, this summer could be his briefest season for Hampshire to date.