Earlier in the day, Bangladesh captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first T20 match.
Bangladesh included Jake Ali in the playing eleven, while the visitors are being led by Charith Asalanka in the absence of regular captain Wanindu Hasaranga. Hasaranga will miss the first two T20I matches due to a ban by the ICC.
At the pre-match presser on Sunday, Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood rated the visitors as favorites in the T20 series.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto, on the other hand, as the full-time captain of the Tigers, sets his sights on leading Bangladesh to a major trophy, which is still missing.