Australia dominated proceedings on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle as the hosts slid to 229-9.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon took the first three wickets of the innings, including that of opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who is playing in his 100th and final Test and was bowled for 36.

Dinesh Chandimal battled to 74 from 163 deliveries before he was stumped by Alex Carey off the bowling of left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann to leave Sri Lanka 150-6.

Namesakes Kusal and Ramesh Mendis added 65 for the seventh wicket, before Mitchell Starc had the latter caught behind for 28.

Starc then removed Prabath Jayasuriya with the following delivery, and Kuhnemann bowled Nishan Peiris a few overs before the close.

Kusal Mendis sits unbeaten on 59 overnight, with Australia needing one wicket to wrap up the innings.

The visitors won the first match of the two-game series by a record innings and 242 runs.

They handed a Test debut to 21-year-old all-rounder Cooper Connolly, with the Western Australian going for 0-12 in his three overs.