The penalty was imposed on Ranatunga, 35, for his action in leading players to the edge of the field and causing a 12-minute hold-up after the team's controversial off-spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan, was no-balled for throwing by Australian umpire Ross Emerson in a One-Day game against England in Adelaide last Saturday.

International Cricket Council (ICC) referee, Peter van der Merve, announcing his decision, said: ``Ranatunga expressed regret at the embarrassment he caused his opponents, the public, and officials.''

``He has been warned that his every action will be very closely monitored over the next 12 months.''

The sentence means the penalty will not be applied unless Ranatunga offends again in the next year.

Ranatunga learned his fate after a four-hour hearing at the Western Australian Cricket Associationheadquarters where the man who led Sri Lanka to the One-Day World Cup in 1996 and the ICC were both represented by senior lawyers.

The suspended penalty means he will be able to play in Sri Lanka's two crucial Perth games this weekend against England tomorrow and Australia on Sunday.