Colombo: West Indies captain Jason Holder led the way with two wickets as the seamers tore through Sri Lanka's top order to take four wickets for 59 runs in today's first session of the second Test.
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Matthews won the toss and elected to bat first despite a seam-friendly pitch at P Sara Oval.
He had cause to regret that decision when Kaushal Silva (0) was caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off Jerome Taylor's bowling on just the fourth ball of the match.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne -- lbw to Holder -- and debutant Kusal Mendis -- caught behind off Kemar Roach -- were out for 13 runs each with the total on 34.
Mathews was out minutes before lunch for 14, caught at slip by Kraigg Braithwaite off Holder (2-8).
Sri Lanka leads the two-match series 1-0 after beating the tourists by an innings and six runs in the first Test.
The hosts dropped regular vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne due to poor form and handed a maiden Test cap to 20-year-old Mendis. Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal, who struggled for control in the first Test, was replaced by Dilruwan Perera.
The International Cricket Council has banned Kaushal's 'doosra' delivery that spins away from the right-handed batsman after tests proved that he was using an illegal bowling action.
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican made his debut for the West Indies in place of fast bowler Shannon Gabriel.
Former West Indies great Garfield Sobers is visiting Sri Lanka to watch the match being played for the Sobers-Tissera Trophy named in his honour and that of Michael Tissera who was a Sri Lanka captain in the pre-Test era.
