A slight, left-arm wristspinner from the outskirts of Colombo, Lakshan Sandakan's consistent hauls in first-class cricket have placed him among the Sri Lanka's best spin prospects. Operating off a shuffling approach and a quick action, Sandakan has the ability to turn the ball both ways, and skid it into the pad.

Graduating from De Mazenod College in Kandana, Sandakan made an inauspicious start to his first-class career in 2012, for Saracens Sports Club. But having moved to Colombo Cricket Club by the following season, the wickets began to come thick and fast. He topped the 2013-14 first-class season's wicket-takers' list, with 54 scalps at an average of 19.14. For those efforts, Sandakan earned a place in Sri Lanka's ODI squad to play England at home in late 2014, though he never played a game.

In the following season, Sandakan was again impressive, with 45 wickets at 24.28. When he went on to top the wicket-taker's list for the second time in three seasons, in the 2015-16 Premier League Tournament, the national selectors rewarded him with a place in the A team squad to England. Sandakan took 5 for 40 in a List A match against Derbyshire on that tour, and was given a second call-up to the national squad almost immediately, thanks in part to injuries to several frontline Sri Lanka players. This time he got to play at the international level, making his Test debut against Australia in Pallekele.
Andrew Fidel Fernando