Sri Lankan pace bowler Dhammika Prasad has been ruled out of the two-test series against New Zealand with a back injury

Sri Lanka have suffered a serious setback ahead of their two-test series with New Zealand with leading pace bowler Dhammika Prasad suffering a tour-ending back injury.

Prasad was slated to spearhead the Sri Lankan attack in Thursday's opening test at Dunedin's University Oval, but broke down after delivering just four overs during the tourists' drawn warm-up match with the New Zealand Cricket President's XI in Queenstown last weekend.

The 32-year-old, who has claimed 75 wickets at 35.97 over his 25-test career, has been replaced by uncapped left armer Vishwa Fernando - a member of the Sri Lanka A side that faced their New Zealand counterparts in Christchurch in October.

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Fernando, who also replaces Prasad in the five-match ODI squad, took 1-91 and 3-72 in the first two-day game against NZ A at Hagley Oval then 1/115 in the tour finale at Lincoln.

He has 103 first class wickets at 32.13 from 36 appearances.

The 24-year-old has been a member of Sri Lankan test squad that toured the United Arab Emirates - to play Pakistan - and Bangladesh in 2014, and August's home series against India but was not selected.

Fernando joins Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera and Suranga Lakmal as the fit members of Sri Lanka's pace unit.