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Batting first after winning the toss, Jayawardene plundered 100 runs off just 81 deliveries, his second World Cup ton, while Sangakkara struck an 87-ball 92 after Tillakaratne Dilshan (50) kick-started Sri Lanka`s campaign in the tournament with a solid half-century at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium.
The experienced left-right duo of Jayawardene-Sangakkara scored runs briskly and added 179 runs in just 22 overs for a third-wicket stand that put the hosts -- who surprisingly left out express bowler Lasith Malinga from the eleven -- in the driving seat.
Jayawardne, who had 671 runs from 25 World Cup matches before today, got out after reaching his 12th ODI hundred, but Sangakkara was a little unlucky to have missed the landmark by just eight runs.
While Jayawardene hit nine boundaries and a six, Sangakkara found the fence seven times and cleared it once during their 179-run association, a commendable effort considering the sluggish pitch and the long boundaries.
A swept boundary off Rizwan Cheema signalled Jayawardene`s intentions, who looked all at ease during his stay at the crease.
The elegant right-hander then hit Jimmy Hansra for a four in the 26th over, before Sangakkara whipped one off the same bowler over wide mid-on for a boundary.
The Sri Lankan skipper reached his fifty in style, pulling Harvir Baidwan over the infield for a four.
Earlier Dilshan launched Sri Lanka`s innings in a style so typical of him.
The dashing Sri Lankan opener began with an awkward boundary off Henry Osinde and then thumped Khurram Chohan`s innocous half-volley through extra cover for a similar result.
Chohan was again at the wrong end of Dilshan`s onslaught when the opener, after a brief interruption due to sightscreen problems, smashed a length ball through the covers.
Even as Dilshan continued to dominate the relatively inexperienced Canadian attack, his opening partner Upul Tharanga (19) got into the groove with an off-drive off Chohan but fell after getting a start, thanks to a horrible mix-up between the two batsmen.
Thanks to Dilshan, Sri Lanka scored 54 runs without losing a wicket in the mandatory powerplay, the 50 coming in 9.3 overs. The next powerplay, though, proved to be fruitful for Canada who conceded just 19 runs while taking a wicket.
A short ball from Baidwan in the 14th over helped Dilshan join the ODI 5000-run club. The bowler lands one outside off stump and Dilshan was on it in a jiffy, cracking it through the off side.
Dilshan holed out to deep cover while trying to go for one too many. Cheema landed one short and outside off, and a gleeful Dilshan went for it but failed to clear deep fielder.
His departure, however, did not slow down Sri Lankan progress as Jayawardene and Sangakkara kept the scoreboard moving at a healthy pace.
