They've been playing Test cricket since 1981, but when it comes to red-ball contests against Australia, Sri Lanka have predominantly found themselves on the receiving end.
Test matches between these two nations have historically seen Australia bludgeoning Sri Lanka into oblivion, even when Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Aravinda De Silva were at the peak of their powers.
Especially in Australia, Sri Lanka are yet to win a match against them despite having been a Test cricket nation for over 40 years.
These repeated thrashings were dispersed with sporadic success in the 80s and 90s, however the turn of the century saw Sri Lanka somewhat come to terms with playing Australia in Test cricket.
Red-ball cricket between these two teams suddenly became more competitive and has produced some memorable matches that are certainly worth an honourable mention. Here are my top five best Test matches between Australia and Sri Lanka.
2. November 2007 – 2nd Test Match - Hobart – Australia win by 96 runs
This match was probably one of the best chances Sri Lanka ever had to secure their first ever Test match victory against Australia on their soil, and it was bungled by a fatal umpiring error. Sangakkara played one of the best innings of his life in this game but was unluckily given out when replays conclusively showed he hadn't hit it all.
From there it all went downhill for Sri Lanka, but this match deserves a special mention because of the sheer determination they showed to take this game to the final day. It kept things very interesting.
Australia won the toss and wasted no time showing why they were the best Test team of the 2000s. Phil Jacques and Michael Hussey both batted on turbo-mode, notching up masterful hundreds with fifties from Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist taking the Aussies to an imposing first innings score of 542 for five declared.
In reply Sri Lanka wilted, although they scored just enough in their first innings to avoid an enforced follow-on, thanks to a gutsy maiden Test ton on Australian soil for Mahela Jayawardene. They were always behind in this game though, thanks to a Brett Lee fast-bowling masterclass. Lee collected two four-fors in both of Sri Lanka's innings, but as long as Sangakkara was out there, the visitors still believed.
Realising that they needed to give themselves time to bowl out the opposition, Australia declared again in their second innings at two for 210, leaving Sri Lanka with a monstrous target of 507 to chase for victory.
Impossible was probably the word that was on everyone's lips as Sri Lanka had not demonstrated any assured ability to bat confidently in Australian conditions, but the fact that they still managed to bring the victory margin down to under 100 runs showed remarkable resolve in their performance.
Sangakkara batted like a god that day. His second innings 192 was full of his trademark cover-drives, sweeps, pulls and the odd hook and cut shot where need be. He was brave and courageous in the way he handled Brett Lee and a young Mitchell Johnson, having the audacity to step back and even late cut their extreme pace regularly through the vacant third man region for bulk runs.
With only Malinga and the tail for support, the Sri Lankan camp began to hope, and the creases on Ponting's forehead continued to grow.
However, it all came crashing to a head, as Sangakkara was wrongly given out caught behind by umpire Rudi Koertzen whilst attempting a pull shot off a Stuart Clark bumper that never touched his bat.
As a livid and visibly upset Sangakkara departed the ground, so too did Sri Lanka's hopes. Australia could breathe a sigh of relief, as they wrapped up the game with a 96-run victory.
