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Kulasekara was promoted much ahead of regular batsmen in Lankan line-up to accelerate the run-rate and that's what he did.
With Sangakkara at the other end, Kulasekara took on Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan and completed his third ODI fifty in just 30 balls.
England were left floundering and looking for some quick wickets to stop the Sri Lankan resistence.
Meanwhile, Sangakkara also completed his 15 ODI ton in 111 balls.
James Anderson gave England the breakthrough that they desperately need when he dismissed Mahela Jayawardene during their Champions Trophy clash at The Oval on Thursday.
Both Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene had put up a rock-solid 85-run partnership for the third wicket to ease Sri Lanka's runchase of 294 runs.
England brought back their premier fast bowler Anderson during the batting power play hoping to break the partnership which was beginning to pose a threat to them.
Anderson succeeded into breaking the stand and Jayawardene walked back to the pavillion after scoring 42 runs, with 3 fours and a six.
Graeme Swann gave England their first break by getting rid of Tillakaratne Dilshan (44) after a solid 92-run stand for the 2nd wicket.
Dilshan was caught by Joe Root near boundary line just after Sri lanka crossed 100-mark in 21st over. Dilshan's dismissal was soon followed by Kumar Sangakkara's fifty that came off59 balls.
Dilshan and Sangakkara steadied Sri Lanka after losing opener Kusal Perera early.
Pacer Anderson gave England a good start by sending back Sri Lankan opener Perera in the third over with just ten runs on board.
Perera was caught by Ravi Bopara at long on after scoring 6.
Earlier, a gritty show by the top order and a fiery cameo by Bopara in the final over guided England to a challenging 293/7.
Jonathan Trott top scored for England making 76 while Alastair Cook and Joe Root scored 59 and 68 respectively. Ravi Bopara chipped in with a quick-fire 33 off 13 balls.
Bopara scored 28 runs of the final over, smashing three sixes and two boundaries.
Asked to bat, England got off to a slow start as they managed to scored just 38 runs in the first ten overs.
Shaminda Eranga gave England first blow by dismissing Ian Bell in the 12th over at the score of 48.
Eranga got Bell caught by Kusal Perera at mid-wicket after his 20-run knock off 37 balls. However, Captain Cook and Jonathan Trott accelerated the scoring rate with their respective half centuries.
The duo guided England past 100 in 24th over and kept Sri Lankans in search for a breakthrough.
The England captain finally fell in the 29th over of the bowling of left-arm spinner Rangana Herath as he was trapped LBW while attempting a sweep shot playing across the line. Cook called for review which went against him.
Joe Root then joined Trott and kept England marching towards a big total. The duo shared 87 runs for the third wicket from 13.3 overs before the former was out in the 42nd over with Herath taking his second wicket, also a LBW decision.
It was left to Root and Eoin Morgan (13) to get the maximum out of the slog overs but both perished in consecutive balls in the 46th over as England lost the initial advantage a bit.
Root was foxed by a Malinga slower delivery as the ball took the top edge for Mahela Jayawardene to take an easy catch at deep midwicket. Next ball, Morgan was adjudged LBW as he missed a fuller delivery.
Sri Lanka then tightened grip with quick wickets of Jos Butler (0) and Tim Bresnan (4).
However, Bopara's aggressive batting took England to massive total.
For Sri Lanka, Malinga, Herath and Eranga grabbed two wickets each while Kulasekara got a wicket.
Sri Lanka will look for a vastly improved batting performance against hosts England as they try to stay afloat in the Champions Trophy.
Sri Lanka made only one change bringing in Nuawn Kulasekara for Thisara Perera. England replaced James Tredwell with Graeme Swann
England: Alastair Cook(c), Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, JC Buttler, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (c), HDRL Thirimanne, Nuwan Kulasekara,Rangana Herath, RMS Eranga, Lasith Malinga
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