Murali and the rest
The world's leading wicket-taker, his likely successor, and three from the 80s

Mendis: likely to inherit Murali's mantle • AFP
The contenders
De Silva worked hard to emerge as his country's leading legspinner, and he is still to be matched. He was unfortunate that his talents could not be displayed for a longer period at Test level because by the time his country were awarded Test status he was nearing his forties. He took 37 wickets in 12 Tests before retiring at 42.
The first wrist-spinning offspinner in the history of the game. Murali's super-flexible hand has made him especially potent and guaranteed him turn on any surface. Never has one country depended so on a single bowler for success in all formats of the game. Murali is used to bowling marathon spells, and despite the controversy that has surrounded his bowling action, he has etched his name in the record books as the leading wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs. He is the first player to take 1000 wickets combined in the two formats.
Ajit de Silva
De Silva was a highly rated left-arm orthodox spinner who failed to live up to expectations in the four Tests he played for his country and ended his career by going on a rebel tour to South Africa less than a year after Sri Lanka had become a Test-playing nation. It was hoped he would form a lethal spin combination with Somachandra De Silva during the country's formative years in Test cricket, but that not to be.
Mendis made a startling entry to international cricket baffling all batsmen with his crafty bowling, which comprised a variety of deliveries: googly, offbreak, topspinner, flipper, legbreak, as well as the carrom ball, released with a flick of his middle finger. In a short span Mendis was posing questions to the batsmen with his unpredictability. In his debut Test series, against India, he took 26 wickets, beating Alec Bedser's record by two. Although batsmen have begun to play him with more ease now, he still remains a dangerous bowler and the likely successor to Murali.
Anurasiri was Sri Lanka's first-choice slow bowler from the late 80s to the mid-90s but never a permanent fixture in the side. Although he made his Test debut at 20, he never took a five-wicket haul in any of his 18 Tests. But he was successful in containing batsmen, especially on unresponsive wickets. A whole-hearted performer, Anurasiri lacked the penetration to become a match-winner in the side.