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Sri Lanka coasted to an enormous 210-run victory in their opening World Cup game against Canada in front of home fans in Hambantota.

The hosts won the toss and opted to bat on a cloudy afternoon.

Canada's determined start was picked apart piece-by-piece by an outstanding partnership of 179 between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jaywardene, and the minnows were left to chase Sri Lanka's score of 332 for seven wickets from their 50 overs.

They were never in contention to do so, sliding to 12 for three after just four overs, and despite a little fight from Rizwan Cheema, they eventually limped to 122 all out.

Having witnessed the earlier capitulation of Kenya in their game against New Zealand in the same group, Canada would have been determined to give a better account of themselves.

They began well enough, with the medium pace of Khurram Chohan and Henry Osinde stopping the Sri Lankans from racing away.

Osinde pulled up early in his third over, ending his spell in the field, but Harvir Baidwan continued the good work.

And a clumsy miscommunication saw Upul Tharanga lose his wicket through a run-out.

Sangakkara started shakily and Tillakaratne Dilshan holed out the moment he had reached his half-century.

But those wickets brought Jayawardene to the crease, and in partnership with Sangakkara the right-hander took the game away from Canada.

Jayawardene played few of the elegant shots he is best known for, dispatching the ball to midwicket to give the co-hosts momentum, and eventually going on to reach his 100 from a mere 80 balls.

The ball after he had reached the quickest World Cup century by a Sri Lankan batsman, a tired Jayawardene offered a simple catch to John Davison's off-spin, joining his captain in the hutch after he had fell shortly before for 92.

Some deft hitting from Angelo Mathews and Thilan Samaraweera kept Sri Lanka in control, though, and set a formidable target.

Opening bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera were on target immediately - the latter removing Davison with his very first delivery, and the former then prising out Sri Lankan-born Ruvindu Gunasekera, before Perera's second wicket, trapping Zubin Surkari in front of the stumps, left Canada reeling.

Jimmy Hansra and Ashish Bagai embarked on a ponderous partnership as Sangakkara deployed his spinners to ensure that, with reports of rain on the way, the minimum 20 overs were bowled and Sri Lanka were assured of victory.

Hansra eventually fell after a 49-ball purgatory worth nine runs, and wickets continued to fall, with Samaraweera and Perera striking.

Rizwan Cheema provided Canada's only meaningful resistance, twice launching an off-colour Muttiah Muralitharan into the stands in a punchy innings of 37 from 35 deliveries.

But Kulasekara picked up more wickets, and Muralitharan finally struck to mop up the tail with spinner Ajantha Mendis to seal an enormous win.

There will be stiffer tests for Sri Lanka, who are amongst the favourites in the competition, but they, like fellow hosts India did yesterday, looked assured in getting a first win on the board.