The series win over India three weeks ago had raised expectations that England's developing one-day line-up finally had enough in their armoury to test Sri Lanka in their own conditions.

But the tourists were beaten by 119 runs, after being dismissed for a lowly 150 chasing Sri Lanka's competitive 269 for seven.

Just like many England sides before them, Paul Collingwood's current vintage struggled to compete with their talented opponents and slipped to a comprehensive defeat.

It was an inauspicious start to the five-match one-day international series and leaves England still waiting to add to their solitary victory on Sri Lankan soil.

That came in 1982, and since then their hosts have won all eight completed matches.

Sri Lanka's triumph also extended their recent record over England to just one defeat in the last nine matches home and away and emphasised the massive gulf Collingwood's side still have to overcome before they can regard themselves as part of the world's elite.

The architect of their downfall on this occasion was seamer Farveez Maharoof, whose 22 off 12 balls had earlier propelled Sri Lanka past 250 to a competitive total just as wickets began to fall in the final overs.

Having contributed with the bat, Maharoof then ripped through England's top order to leave them chasing the match for the remainder of the contest, claiming three for four in only 17 balls and finishing with four for 31 from an unbroken 10-over spell.