Sri Lanka plans to welcome foreign players to compete for the first time for local teams in a revamped Twenty20 format, a top administrator said Saturday.

Modelled on the glitzy Indian Premier League (IPL), the new format is also aimed at attracting overseas sponsorship, Sri Lanka's chief cricket selector, Aravinda de Silva, said.

"This (new) Inter Provincial League will create opportunities for players, spectators and viewers and raise scope for foreign advertisers to reach a much wider audience," he said.