Sri Lanka are about to say farewell to the second of their two great modern guiding forces as Kumar Sangakkara prepares for the final two Tests out his outstanding career.

Sangakkara will begin his 133rd Test on Wednesday against India, at the ground where he made his debut more than 15 years ago, having agreed to delay his retirement for two more matches.

The 37-year-old's 12,305 Test runs put him top of the list of those currently playing - and fifth in the historic roll of honour, ahead of Brian Lara and his former team-mate Mahela Jayawardene among many other all-time greats.

Following Jayawardene's Test retirement a year ago, Sangakkara will follow suit after the first two of three matches at home to India.

Entirely irrespective of whether he makes big runs either at Galle this week, or at the P Sara Oval in Colombo, captain Angelo Mathews has left no one in any doubt about how much he believes he owes his "go-to man" Sangakkara.

"In the last eight years of my career, Kumar Sangakkara has helped me personally," said Mathews.

"He is always willing to help the young guys - and whenever you play a bad shot, he comes up to us and says that we can play it in a better way.

"He gives confidence to the youngest - and not only for the batsmen - for the bowlers as well.

"We learnt a lot from him and we are thankful for who he has been for the team on and off the field.

"He is your go-to man. You can always go to him and get an honest opinion."

India, who will start the series two places below their hosts at seventh in the Test rankings, are ready to deploy five frontline bowlers to keep Sangakkara and others quiet.

Touring captain Virat Kohli said: "The only way you can win a Test is by taking 20 wickets, so the idea of playing five bowlers is pretty clear.

"We are confident to execute our plans against Sanga and the rest.

"I have been reminded many times about not winning in Sri Lanka for 22 years.

"(But) I am pretty happy with what I have seen till now - the guys look pretty hungry."

Sangakkara has the chance to leave a few more memories yet.

Asked for his favourite ones so far, two trips to England are high on his list.

"I remember going there with the team last year, and beating England 1-0 in that series was the best overseas tour I have been on," he said.

"In that 2006 series, when we drew, we also won the one-dayers 5-0. All the wins we have had, especially away from home, have been special.

"Beating Australia for the first time in a one-day series in 2010, the World T20 which we won - all of these have been really stand-out moments for me.

"But also, once Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Chaminda Vaas, Aravinda de Silva - all of these guys - left, I'm happy to have been part of a set-up that produced cricketers like Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Upul Tharanga - and the one guy who has been outstanding and who is never spoken about - Rangana Herath."