Captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis scored centuries and shared a record partnership for the second wicket to help Sri Lanka reach 386/4 at stumps on Day of their first Test against Ireland here on Sunday.

Having won the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to a fine start with Karunaratne sharing 64 runs for the opening wicket with Nishan Madushka (29). Madushka edged a delivery from Curtis Campher that cut away from the right-hander for a catch to wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker.

Mendis joined Karunaratne at No.3 and the pair shared 281 for the second wicket, the highest partnership for any wicket at Galle after surpassing 267 runs scored for the fifth wicket by Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh 10 years ago.

Karunaratne reached his 15th Test century in his 85th match. He faced 235 balls and hit 15 boundaries for his 179 runs. Mendis reached his eighth Test century and was out for 140, trapped lbw by left-arm spinner George Dockrell.

Mendis faced 193 deliveries and hit 18 boundaries and a six in his knock.

Senior cricketer and former captain Angelo Mathews was out without scoring, caught behind off leg-spinner Ben White.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 386/4 (D. Karunaratne 179, K. Mendis 140; C. Campher 1/44) vs Ireland. At stumps, Day I.