Sri Lanka's legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was felicitated before the start of their first Test against India in Galle, on Sunday.

The Indian cricketers also greeted him before taking the field. A special gold coin was used for toss with Muralitharan's visage on one side and some of his top performances on the other.

Muralitharan, who is making his last Test appearance, needs eight wickets to complete his 800-wicket tally in the longer version of the game.

Sri Lanka reached 256 for two before rain halted play just eight overs into the final session.

Photographs: Reuters

Debutant Abhimanyu Mithun struck the first blow for India when he claimed the wicket of Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Dilshan hit a quick 25 from 24 balls with the help of five boundaries before he tried to pull a short delivery but only managed to glove it behind to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and give Mithun his first Test wicket.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara led the way for Sri Lanka with the bat as he scored a fluent century to help the hosts dominated the truncated opening day.

Sangakkara was dropped on 65 by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni when the Indian captain failed to hold onto an edge off Virender Sehwag. The left-hander took full advantage of the let-off and reached his century shortly before the tea break.

Sangakkara fell when he failed to middle a bad ball from Virender Sehwag and was caught by Sachin Tendulkar for 103.

It was a special day for Sri Lanka opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who hit a maiden Test hundred.

Paranavitana, on 35, survived a chance when Gautam Gambhir failed to hold onto a reflex catch off Harbhajan Singh.

Paranavitana (110 not out) and Mahela Jayawardene (8) were at the crease when play was called off shortly after the tea break because of rain.

Sangakkara and Paranavitana captalised on a solid start of 91 for one at lunch and the duo treated the hapless Indian bowling attack with disdain by sharing 181 runs for the second wicket in exactly 51 overs to take the game away from the visitors.

Sri Lanka were sitting pretty on 256 for two when bad light followed by rain halted play in the final session of the opening day.

It turned out to be a miserable day for the Indians as their inexperienced bowling attack struggled to make any impact on the Sri Lankan batsmen who scored at a brisk pace.

Mithun impressed with the ball as he took one for 41 in 13 overs, while Sehwag claimed one for 23 in seven overs.

Harbhajan Singh, struggling with his fitness, bowled 17 overs without success, while Pragyan Ojha failed to find the right line as he gave away 66 runs in 17 overs.