England, trailing 1-0 in the series, need a win to retain their number one position in the Test rankings. A draw or a loss will see them slip to second spot behind South Africa.
The tourists went in with a three-man seam attack, bringing in Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn to partner James Anderson with the new ball. Spinner Monty Panesar was dropped, while Stuart Broad has flown home with a calf injury.
Sri Lanka made two changes from the side that won in Galle, as a fit-again Angelo Mathews and Dhammika Prasad returned in place of Dinesh Chandimal and Chanaka Welegedara.
England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn, Graeme Swann.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Suranga Lakmal, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad.
Umpires: Asad Rauf (PAK) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
(AFP)
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