The English summer and Sangakkara have been uncomfortable bedfellows ever since the left-hander first toured the country with Sri Lanka in 2002.
In 17 test innings in England before his second knock in Southampton, the 33-year-old averaged 27.81 - a poor return for one of the world's great batsmen in recent years.
But a near-flawless 119 in the third and final test was easily his best score in England, in probably his last five-day match in the country, and secured a draw.
"When I first came to England I was a bit at sea," said Sangakkara, who also toured in 2006. "I tried to make some adjustments but was not getting anywhere.
"The second time around I had two opportunities, one at Lord's when I got out to Monty Panesar. So coming here again from the IPL, it was a case of adjusting again. Not just technically but also mentally. It took me a bit too long to do that."
The 249-ball innings, which he started in defiant fashion before eventually becoming more bold with his shotmaking, was even more impressive given the situation Sri Lanka found itself in, with the hosts utterly dominant and keen to wrap up a win that would have lifted them to joint-second place in the rankings.
Added to that was the fact he had the added pressure of the interim captaincy on his shoulders, a role he was initially reluctant to take having given it up just 10 weeks ago.
"It's very satisfying to score a hundred," he said. "It would have been nice to have done it at Lord's (in the drawn second test). That's something I'll have to get over but it's nice to finally get there."
Considering he averages 56.18 in 97 tests, his lack of runs in England is mystifying.
He made only 105 runs in six tests in 2002, improved to an average of 38.5 four years later. This series, his top score was 26 before his superb second innings in Southampton, made with his team's back firmly against the wall.
It was a captain's innings from someone who is more than happy to be relinquishing the position when Tillakaratne Dilshan returns from a broken thumb.
"It's been interesting. I have always enjoyed the captaincy and it was nice to be back for one last time," he said.
Despite the draw, these are worrying times for Sri Lanka, in terms of test cricket at least. It remains the fourth-ranked nation but, with spin great Muttiah Muralitharan no longer around, it may not be for long.
Without the retired Murali and pacemen Lasith Malinga and Chaminda Vaas, the deficiencies in their bowling unit are glaring.
They didn't come close to taking 20 wickets this series, with Dilhara Fernando a disappointment and the rest of their pace attack failing to seriously threaten England.
Sri Lanka hasn't won any of its eight test matches since Murali quit last year.
"Our ambition now has to be to consolidate with the players we have, the ability we have and find new ways of winning test matches," Sangakkara said. "We don't have Muralitharan any more, we don't have Vaas. For us to win, we have to find different avenues. That the thing for us. Those are the questions we need to answer in the months ahead.
"Our bowlers try their hearts out, put in a lot of effort but the key is to be patient. To find out ways of getting wickets. To win a test match, you need to take 20 wickets. That's going to be the key to us going forward."
With no Murali, the rest of Sri Lanka's attack has nowhere to hide.
They should have more joy in the upcoming limited-overs matches, however, which begin on Saturday with a Twenty20 match in Bristol. Three one-dayers follow, just a couple of months after Sri Lanka embarrassed England in a World Cup quarterfinal before going on to lose to India in the final.
