Opener Marvan Atapattu scored his fourth double century in Test cricket to steer Sri Lanka to a strong position on the second day of the first cricket Test against England in Galle yesterday.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya declared the innings closed as soon as Atapattu completed the feat at 470 for five, with the hope of striking a psychological blow early in the England innings.

But openers Michael Atherton and Marcus Trescothick survived eight overs, which included four from off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to take England to 27 for no loss by the close. Atapattu proved to be the cornerstone on which the Sri Lanka innings was built on. His unflappable concentration took him to his sixth Test century, four of which he has converted into double centuries.

He batted without offering a chance until after tea when inside five balls he was missed twice at 177 by Andy Caddick when he failed to hold onto a return catch, and by Alec Stewart who missed a stumping off left-arm spinner Ashley Giles.

Atapattu completed his double century in 677 minutes which was the third slowest in Test cricket after Sri Lankan Brendon Kuruppu's 777 minutes and South African Gary Kirsten's 741 minutes. He faced 530 balls and hit 18 fours.

Atapattu was helped in a double century partnership by veteran Aravinda de Silva who scored his 19th Test century before being run out on 106. De Silva went to his century with a sweep off Croft for three. It took him 307 minutes and 222 balls and included 10 fours and a six.

The Atapattu-De Silva partnership for the third wicket yielded 230 runs, and fell short by 14 runs to break the Sri Lanka record for the wicket held by Sanath Jayasuriya and De Silva at the Oval in 1998.

After De Silva's departure, Mahela Jayawardene laid into the England bowling, flaying it for 61 runs and helping Atapattu add a further 111 for the fourth wicket. Jayewardene hit four fours and two sixes in his 94-ball innings before being run out by Graham Thorpe.