[2] Originally, a three-Test tour was scheduled to take place in July and August 2020,[3][4] but it was postponed to October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[7][8] In December 2020, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were considering touring Sri Lanka in April 2021 to play two Test matches.

[6] Also in July 2020, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed it was their priority to reschedule the matches, along with the five other World Test Championship series that had been postponed due to the pandemic.

[20] On 12 September 2020, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that the Bangladesh team would need to quarantine for one week on arrival in the country before they can begin to train.

[39] Sri Lanka also named a preliminary squad,[40] with bowler Dushmantha Chameera opting out of the tour due to taking paternity leave.

[41] Lahiru Kumara suffered an injury during the third day of the first Test, and was ruled out of Sri Lanka's squad for the remainder of the series.

[42] On 26 April 2021, Lakshan Sandakan and Chamika Karunaratne were named as replacements for Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka in Sri Lanaka's squad.