They go into the Test without a victory in six Tests played this year, and hope the trend is broken by the time the series against India ends on August 13.
Sri Lanka's dominant problem has been the lack of continuous exposure to Test cricket as they have had in one-day internationals.
Today's Test marks Sri Lanka's 75th in 15 years of Test cricket, which gives them an average of five Tests a year. This is in comparison to over 200 one-day internationals they have played during the same period.
LONGER VERSION
One could easily see why Sri Lanka are the world champions in the abbreviated game and, also rans in the longer version of it.
``It is not difficult task to adjust to the five-day game. The potential is there, it is the application that we need,'' said Sri Lanka manager cum coach Mendis.
``What we lacked in the past was continuous exposure to Test cricket. We have a very tight international Test calendar ahead of us and I am sure that by the end of it, we will be a force to be reckoned with,'' said Mendis.
``The boys are confident of performing well in the Tests, although it is a different ball game,'' he said.
TWO SEAMERS
Sri Lanka are going into the Test with two seamers and two spinners as the R. Premadasa Stadium wicket is expected to be on the slow side.
With their most reliable number six batsman Hashan Tillekeratne still on the injured list (broken forearm), 20-year-old right-hander from SSC, Mahela Jayawardena gets his big break at the highest level.
Jayawardena will be the only new face in the Sri Lankan line-up, which the most, may have a reshuffle of the top batting order as they attempt to end their barren run.
The Sri Lanka selectors yesterday decided to include left-handed opener Russel Arnold in the squad, but he is unlikely to make it to the final eleven.
POSITIVE
India, on the other hand, hoping to redeem themselves after their losses to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, have shown a much positive approach by naming five bowlers in their squad.
Three spinners - Anil Kumble, Rajesh Chauhan and left-armer Nilesh Kulkarni, who will be making his Test debut at the age of 24, form the core of their bowling attack which will be spearheaded by Venkatesh Prasad and Abey Kuruvila.
India dropped Vinod Kambli, Robin Singh and Debashish Mohanty in naming a squad of 13 for the Test. However, opener Gagan Khoda and all-rounder Ajay Jadeja are not expected to make the final 11 although included in the 13.
Wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, one of four replacements called up by India after the Asia Cup, will open the batting with Najot Sidhu, who scored the only century on the tour so far for India when he made an undefeated 100 against a Sri Lanka Board President's XI on Thursday.
Rahul Dravid, skipper Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin and Saurav Ganguly form a strong middle-order combination.
IMPORTANT
``The first Test is always the most important in a series. I have asked the boys to go out and play positively, and according to the situation,'' said Tendulkar.
``Test cricket is altogether a different ball game. You have enough time to plan out your strategies. It is definitely more challenging. Getting a hundred in Test cricket is always considered a better performance than in a one-day,'' said Tendulkar.
``All the guys will be definitely trying their best. I am sure they will come out with flying colours,'' he said.
Tendulkar was looking forward to gaining some valuable batting practice in the three-day game against the Sri Lanka Board President XI. But his innings was however terminated abruptly when umpire Saman Amarasinghe gave him out caught, which Tendulkar believed was a bump ball.
FINAL JUDGE
``I hit the ball directly on the bat and it landed on the ground and went to slip. It was very obvious to me and Navjot Sidhu (the non-striker). But the umpire is the final judge. So I can't comment on it. I was disappointed I couldn't have a long knock,'' said Tendulkar, who was dismissed for five.
Tendulkar assessed the pitch would be a good track and said that getting a bit total in the first innings was very important. He expected the pitch to help the slow bowlers than the faster men.
THE TEAMS
SRI LANKA : Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Roshan Mahanama, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardena, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Muthiah Muralitharan, Jayantha Silva.
INDIA (from): Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Navjot Sidhu, Nayan Mongia, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin, Saurav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Rajesh Chauhan, Venkatesh Prasad, Nilesh Kulkarni, Abey Kuruvila, Ajay Jadeja, Gogan Khoda.
UMPIRES: Kandiah Francis (Sri Lanka) and Steve Randall (Australia).
MATCH REFEREE: John Reid (New Zealand).