England faltered against both pace and spin as Sri Lanka skittled the tourists for 185 in 43 overs in the second one-day international at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
Ravi Bopara top-scored with 51 and Joe Root made 42, but none of the other batsmen settled in after Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to bat on the slow wicket.
Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis finished with three for 33 as the slow bowlers shared six wickets and the seamers chipped in with four wickets.
The match was reduced to 45-overs-a-side following a delayed start due to persistent rain in the Sri Lankan capital over the past two days.
Both teams wore black arm-bands and observed a minute's silence before the start to mourn Australian batsman Phil Hughes, who died in Sydney on Thursday of head injuries sustained by a rising ball.
Bats and caps were displayed outside the dressing rooms as a mark of respect and flags flew at half-mast over the stadium.
England, trailing 0-1 in the seven-match series, lost half their side by the 28th over with just 117 runs on the board.
Opener Moeen Ali, century-maker in Wednesday's 25-run loss in the first game, made only two when he attempted a wild heave off Tillakaratne Dilshan and was bowled in the second over.
Ian Bell, playing his 150th one-day international, was dismissed by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for 11 and Dilshan also removed Cook for 22.
Joe Root appeared in good form when he was trapped leg-before by Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews after Eoin Morgan fell to Thisara Perera for 17.
Bopara was dismissed in the 42nd over, caught at mid-wicket off Mendis, as he attempted to push the scoring in the company of tailenders.
Source: AFP