New Delhi: Revenge will be uppermost in the mind of Sri Lankans when they tour India next week for a four-match one-day series ahead of the World Cup in the Caribbean in March-April.

The Sri Lankans had suffered a 2-0 loss in the Test series and a 6-1 drubbing in the one-day series at the hands of India in 2005-06, and skipper Mahela Jayawardene said they were keen to make amends this time, more so since both the teams have been placed in the same group for World Cup.

"The focus might be on the World Cup, but what we are trying to refocus is that India is a place that we haven't performed well recently. We want to rectify that and put it right, saying this is the place we are going to be competitive and perform well," he said.

"If we do that it will be good for us confidence wise, going into the World Cup," Jayawardene was quoted as saying by 'cricinfo'.

The Sri Lankan skipper said the disastrous tour of India a year ago had proved to be a blessing in disguise as the players had regrouped to notch up some sterling performances.

"India actually started our revival. When we lost badly those six matches we had a chat and asked ourselves where we wanted to be in one year's time. Today we are in a different situation, consistently performing.

"We have grown up as a team and we have put a lot of results together. Going back to India again is doing the whole recycle. It's another way of saying let's compare where we were in India one year ago and now. We are competing much better overseas," he said.