Sri Lanka were frustrated by the weather as rain stopped play on the first day of the final Test with India after taking two early wickets in Colombo.

After bidding farewell to the retiring Kumar Sangakkara in a second-Test defeat to India on Monday, the hosts won the toss and elected to field and made quick inroads in the series decider at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

Dhammika Prasad (1-16) struck to remove Lokesh Rahul (2) with just the second ball of the day with a delivery that pitched outside off stump and nipped back in before Ajinkya Rahane (8) was trapped lbw by Nuwan Pradeep (1-16).

Those two dismissals left India reeling on 14-2 and the tourists were fortunate not to lose a third wicket when captain Virat Kohli (14 not out) was dropped on just eight by debutant wicketkeeper and Sangakkara's replacement Kusal Perera.

From there Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara (19 not out) helped repair some of the early damage and guide India to 50-2 with a partnership of 36 before the persistent inclement weather brought a halt to proceedings.