India captain Virat Kohli added to the swathe of tributes heaped on Kumar Sangakkara, who retired from international cricket following the conclusion of the second Test in Colombo.

Sangakkara brought the curtain down on an illustrious 15-year career on Monday, although his farewell was soured by India's convincing 278-run success.

With more than 28,000 runs from almost 600 international appearances, Sangakkara is regarded as one of the greatest to have ever played the game, and Kohli was quick to laud the elegant left-hander.

"I just want to congratulate Kumar again on a wonderful career," the India skipper said. 

"I have spoken a lot about him, everyone has in the last week, but I can't help saying it again that it has been an absolute pleasure playing with you."

The win was India's first in 10 attempts in Tests, and was an impressive response after they collapsed to a remarkable defeat from a dominant position in the opening encounter in Galle.

"It's a commendable effort to regroup so soon and putting up this show," Kohli said. 

"[Lokesh] Rahul takes up the gloves because [Wriddhiman] Saha is injured, and he takes a blinder first ball. That is an example of how everybody chipped in.

"Everyone apart from Stuart [Binny] bowled today. As I said, once we took those early wickets, we wanted to bowl attacking lines and didn't want to lose time.

In the first innings you have to applaud Stuart because on that pitch he bowled great control to keep my other bowlers fresh."