Kumar Sangakkara described playing for Sri Lanka as the "greatest honour" after announcing that he would retire from international cricket in August.
The 37-year-old had already retired from Twenty20 and one-day internationals, where he is the second-highest run-scorer of all time, and he will bring down the curtain on a 15-year career in the longest format after the second Test against India.
Since making his Test debut against South Africa in 2000, Sangakkara has completed 131 matches, scoring 12,271 runs with 38 centuries at an average of 58.43.
Kumar Sangakkara to retire during series against India
He is currently playing in his 132nd contest against Pakistan in Colombo where he scored 34 in the first innings and there will now be only two more on the international stage.
"I'm going to miss playing for Sri Lanka a hell of a lot without a doubt," he told a press conference following day three of the second Test.
"I've had the time of my life playing for Sri Lanka. I think it's the greatest honour that I've had apart from my family and my friends, growing up as a kid and watching some great Test players in Sri Lanka and being a part of that tradition.
"I enjoyed playing every format of the game but donning the whites for Sri Lanka has a special place.
"I've had the best of times, I've had disappointments, regrets all of that but at the end of the day I can walk away very happy knowing that all the good times outweigh the disappointments by far.
"I wish I could keep on playing but I know that when the time comes you have to go and I think that this is my time."
Sangakkara is the fifth-highest run-scorer in Test history but insists he has no interest in playing on to bump up his own statistics and that the time is right to step away.
"This was a commitment I had made with the previous selection committee because I had originally planned to retire after the World Cup from all international cricket," he said.
"But following discussions with the previous selection committee I gave my word that I would be available for these two series.
"At the same time I said that I would be unable to play six matches but I could do four and if that was okay that I would give 100 per cent of my commitment to these four Test matches."
He added: "I think I've always prided myself on performing well for the side as an individual but at the end of the day, I want to be able to look my team-mates in the eye and say that I went out there because I really wanted to do well for the side and it was nothing to do with individual records. I can do that right now.
"I think extending my career doesn't make a lot of sense. Two to three years maybe but then I'll be 40, that is too long. I think when you really weigh everything up, this is the time to go."
Sangakkara bowed out of Twenty20 internationals with an unbeaten 52 as he helped guide Sri Lanka to victory in the final of the T20 World Cup last year and played his last ODI in the quarter-final defeat to South Africa at the World Cup in March.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who no longer operates behind the stumps in five-day cricket, took 179 Test catches with 20 stumpings.
Sangakkara also captained his country between 2009 and 2011, losing just three of his 15 Tests in charge.
And while any team in the world would find his prolific run-scoring hard to replace, Sangakkara insists the future looks bright for Sri Lanka under Angelo Mathews.
"What's exciting is that they have a lot of talent and a lot ability," he said.
"You have Angelo who's a fantastic captain, fantastic cricketer, I think he's the ideal man to lead this team of youngsters well into the future.
"I just wish that there will be a real culture of fearless cricket, positive cricket where they aren't afraid to make mistakes.
"Of course everyone will have to be patient with them for a while because when you invest in developing a side it will take some time to deliver the results that we all know they can and we all want from them.
"But that investment is going to be worthwhile."
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