Shane Warne has said he was inspired and humbled by the determination of the people he visited in tsunami-devastated Sri Lanka.

The Australian leg spinner is in Sri Lanka to help his cricketing rival Muttiah Muralitharan in the tsunami relief effort.

In his column in British newspaper The Times, Warne described the tsunami survivors as the real champions of the world.

"One village near Galle I visited was reduced from 400 houses to just ten," he wrote.

"I met tiny children who have lost both parents, all their clothes and toys, but are battling on. They are the real champions of the world.

"To hear them laugh when we gave out books and crayoning sets, and to be so polite, has been humbling.

"The determination and resilience of people has been inspirational.

"As a parent, I still struggle to get my head around the tales of mothers and fathers having to let go of the arms of a child to try to save the life of another.

"I don't know if I could leave two of mine, knowing they would be swept away, to make sure the third survived."

Warne said Sri Lanka was always a special place for him to tour.

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