Despite most of first two days' play washed out, the Bangladesh batting found no answer to the rich Lankan attack as the visitors were bundled out for 176 in their second innings shortly before tea on the fourth day.

Bangladesh suffered innings defeats in all the matches to experience their worst Test series so far.

The picturesque venue took a festive mood with the holiday crowd celebrating local hero Muralidaran's success by beating drums and singing under brilliant sunshine.

The champion off-spinner became only the second bowler in history to take 700 Test wickets after taking six for 54 in the Bangladesh second innings to guide his side to their 50th victory, their tenth in succession against the Tigers.

It was the spin maestro's 20th ten-wicket haul and 60th five-for as he came nine wickets shy of breaking Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne's world record of 708 scalps. The 35-year-old, who captured 26 wickets in the series, was adjudged man of the match and the series too.

But he could have given some credit to Mohammad Ashraful's men, constantly booed by the crowd, for making his job easier with horrible batting.

Sri Lanka declared their innings on overnight 500-4, leaving Bangladesh with a daunting task to score 369 and force their mighty opponents bat again. But the Tigers second essay lasted less than two sessions.

After a positive first session, where they lost two wickets for 106, Bangladesh's all-too-familiar collapse reoccurred as they lost their last eight wickets for only 70 runs.

Opener Javed Omar struggled from the start before offering a catch to Kumar Sangakkara at slip off Lasith Malinga. Left-handed opener Shahriar Nafees, however, looked set to make a strong comeback.

But Muralidaran, who joined the action in the 19th over, started the carnage as he first bowled out-of-form Habibul Bashar (19) -- who unnecessarily charged down -- and then got rid of Nafees early in the second session to reduce Bangladesh to 123-3.

Nafees scored highest 64 off 115 balls with the help of nine fours before caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene.

The dismissal put an end to any chance of a Bangladeshi fightback as left-arm seamer Sujweea de Silva and Muralidaran wrapped up the innings quickly.

Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim, the pair who shared a record partnership in the second innings of the second Test, were promoted in the batting order but failed to deliver the goods.

De Silva picked up two wickets for 34 while Malinga chipped in with 2-46.

The two teams will now return to Colombo to be involved in a three-match one-day series.