Gambhir, dropped on 30 and nearly run out on 49, made 97 to put India within sight of victory after openers Virender Sehwag (nought) and Sachin Tendulkar (18) both fell cheaply to fast bowler Lasith Malinga.
Man-of-the-match Dhoni (91 not out) and man-of-the-tournament Yuvraj Singh (21 not out) then finished the job.
Earlier Mahela Jayawardene made 103 not out as Sri Lanka posted 274 for six after winning the toss.
Victory gave India their second World Cup title to set alongside their victory over the West Indies at Lord’s in 1983 and saw them become the first team to win the trophy on home soil.
Defeat for Sri Lanka was their second in successive World Cup finals after losing to Australia in Barbados four years ago.
It also meant there was no fairytale finish for record-breaking off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the sole survivor from Sri Lanka’s 1996 champion side, who had announced previously he would retire after this World Cup.
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