The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Galle

A confident Sri Lanka, which handed India one of its worst ever defeats last week, goes into the second test Thursday aiming to put an early seal on the three-match series.

Sri Lanka won the first test by an innings and 239 runs, inflicting India's worst innings defeat since their 1974 loss against England by an innings and and 285 runs.

"We are confident with the way we played and we want to go full strength and wrap up the series," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene told reporters ahead of the match at Galle International Stadium.

"We asked them some questions and they didn't have the answers (in the first match) and we need to find out whether they will have the answers for this test match," Jayawardene said.

Sri Lanka's spin twins, veteran Muttiah Muralitharan and rookie Ajantha Mendis, shared 19 wickets between themselves to steer the hosts to the crushing first test win.

India captain Anil Kumble said losing the first test had not killed the confidence of his team.

"We will definitely approach this match in a positive way the series is still alive," Kumble said.

"Its a matter of regrouping and we have done that. We have spent quality time discussing issues and discussing how to cope and how we can come back.

"There is definitely a lot of experience and resilience in this team which we will fall back on and I am sure we will be able put up a better show."

Kumble's faith in the capacity of the side to strike back was reflected by the likely retention of the same XI that was so badly beaten in Colombo, while Sri Lanka was also expected to maintain its winning combination.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: (from):Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilina Thushara Mirando, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera and Dammika Prasad.

India: (from): Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.