Monday, August 21 2006 10:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: The rain-hit one-day cricket series between India and Sri Lanka is today (20 Aug, 2006) finally called off, bringing an anti-climatic end to a tournament which had run into rough weather from the very first day.

After six frustrating rain ruined days, the Sri Lankan cricket Board officially decides to cancel the series after a meeting with the Indian team management late in the evening.

Speculation that the series would be called off was doing the rounds since afternoon but Sri Lankan cricket Board media coordinator Samantha Algama makes the formal announcement in the evening.

The Indians had been greeted with torrential rains since landing in this troubled capital city and are involved in just 16 minutes of cricketing action in the last six days.

The two Boards have tentatively decided to reschedule the series next year.

"There is no point in going on with the series as the weather is showing no signs of improving," a SLC official says.

The three-match series was hurriedly organised after South Africa, scheduled to feature in a tri-nation series, pulled out citing security concerns following a powerful bomb explosion about 2 Kms from the team hotel on Monday (14 Aug, 2006).

However, the inclement weather for the past few days ensures that the two teams are mostly confined to their hotel rooms.