Thilan Samaraweera has been included in a 15-man Sri Lanka squad for the forthcoming one-day series against Pakistan.

Samaraweera, a strong presence in the middle order of his country's Lanka's Test team, returns to the one-day format after a gap of almost four years.

The 32-year-old, who had suffered a bullet injury in the thigh when the team bus was attacked during the Test series against Pakistan in Lahore in March, last played a one-dayer in November 2005.

Samaraweera had caught the eye because of a much-improved strike rate in Test cricket.

Left-hand batsman Upul Tharanga, overlooked for the World Twenty20 in England, also makes a return to the team, while selectors have called up 23-year-old Mahela Udawatte, another left-handed opening batsman, and fast bowler Lasith Malinga.

Left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, who retired from Test cricket at the end of the drawn final Test against Pakistan in Colombo, was overlooked along with the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Dilshan had fractured a finger while keeping wicket in the final Test and is still awaiting a medical report from a specialist.

The teams will play five one-day matches, starting in Dambulla on July 30 and finishing on August 9 in Colombo, followed by one Twenty20 match on August 12.

Squad: K Sangakkara, M Muralitharan, S Jayasuriya, M Jayawardene, T Samaraweera, C Kapugedara, A Mathews, N Kulasekara, L Malinga, A Mendis, T Kandamby, M Bandara, T Thushara, I Udana, U Tharanga.