ENGLAND have acted to a prevent a repeat of the flashpoints which marred their previous encounter with Sri Lanka by warning the players to be mindful of their behaviour during the forthcoming series.

The tourists were given an insight into the sensitivities of the tour today with fast bowler Darren Gough being accused of threatening two of the Colts XI players during the drawn two-day match earlier this week.

No formal complaint has been registered with the Sri Lankan Board about the alleged incident, but the controversy has prompted England to underline the need for diplomacy on their first tour here since 1993.

''Darren reacted to derisory remarks made by the opposition after being given out,'' explained England coach Duncan Fletcher.

''He hasn't been reported and the Sri Lankan Board have made no formal complaint about the matter.

''I've reminded all the England players of their responsibilities in this area as we want to ensure the forthcoming Test and one-day series is played in the proper spirit.''

Sri Lanka are equally keen to avoid a major controversy with Board secretary Mohan de Silva stressing: ''We don't want to strain relationships with England at the start of the tour so we will handle the incident in a very diplomatic way.''

Relations between the two sides were damaged two years ago when they met in a stormy one-day international in Adelaide, which flared up after Roshan Mahanama barged into Gough and culminated in Alec Stewart labelling fellow captain Arjuna Ranatunga ''a disgrace'' after he led Sri Lanka off the field in protest at Muttiah Muralitharan being no-balled.

While England's management were attempting diplomacy off the field, the players shrugged off the early tour controversy to produce an impressive display in claiming a 64-run first innings lead on the second day of their tour match against a Board President's XI.

Resuming on 307 for nine, the tourists rallied brightly from the start of the day with Gough and Andrew Caddick forging a 46-run last wicket stand to take England's total to a respectable 329.

That battling partnership looked even more crucial as the day progressed with England making regular inroads into the President's XI line-up before occasional off-spinner Michael Vaughan claimed two late wickets to wrap up their innings shortly before the close.

Gough provided the early breakthrough by tempting opener Chaminda Mendis into edging behind, but it was the form of their spinners which will most have pleased the tourists as they count down to the opening Test at Galle on February 22.

Ashley Giles increased the pressure by removing the other opener, Jehan Mubarak getting under an attempted sweep to pick out Caddick at backward square leg, while both Robert Croft and Vaughan showed encouraging signs of progress.

Croft took a wicket with his first ball of the day with Michael Van Dort pushing straight to Vaughan at square leg and returned later to take two wickets in four balls to trap Chamara Silva and Prasanna Jayawardene leg before to finish with three for 77.

The only concern was the punishment Glamorgan's off-spinner also received, particularly from Test batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan en route to a superb four-hour 121 which included 16 boundaries.

''It's certainly going to be an exciting series, there won't be much dull cricket,'' claimed Croft.

''Their batsmen are obviously used to playing spin and they come out to the crease as if they already have 20 or 30 runs to their name.

''I'm pleased with the way I'm bowling because it was only the second real bowl I've had in the last four months, but what I must try and do is cut out the one bad ball an over that's coming out at the moment.''

Dilshan's knock was ended when he flicked Gough behind to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart