An ankle injury has forced Ajantha Mendis [ Images ] out of Sri Lanka's [ Images ] squad to tour Bangladesh this month, Sri Lanka Cricket said on Thursday.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath [ Images ] was picked as a replacement for Mendis in a 15-member squad for the two Tests starting December 26.

However, Mendis will play in a three nation one-day international tournament involving Zimbabwe as the third team, the statement said.

Mendis made his debut for Sri Lanka this year and had quickly established himself as a strike bowler in both tests and limited overs cricket.

In July, he broke a 62-year record for the most number of wickets in a three-match debut series, beating England's [ Images ] Alec Bedser's previous best of 24 wickets.

Herath, who has taken 35 wickets in 13 Tests, played his last Test against the West Indies [ Images ] in March.

The squad: Mahela Jayawardene [ Images ] (captain), Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ], Malinda Warnapura [ Images ], Michael Vandort [ Images ] Thilan Samaraweera [ Images ], Tillakaratne Dilshan [ Images ], Prasanna Jayawardena, Chaminda Vaas [ Images ], Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ], Rangana Herath, Dammika Prasad, Chamara Kapugedera [ Images ], Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Thushara.