England were once again frustrated by a century from Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene but fought back to reduce the hosts to 238-6 on the opening day of the second Test in Colombo.
Jayawardene followed up his 180 in the first Test in Galle with 105 this time around, but England will still retain hopes of dismissing their opponents for a satisfying total on day two.
James Anderson took three quick wickets in the morning before a stubborn stand of 124 between Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera (54) turned things back in Sri Lanka's favour.
But the duo were both removed before the end of the day, with Prasanna Jaywardene joining them after adding just seven to leave the home side with some work still to do despite their skipper's heroics.
With Stuart Broad injured, England opted to add some more firepower to their seam attack with Steven Finn and Tim Bresnan both coming into the side and Monty Panesar being dropped.
But it was Anderson who made the breakthrough early on, taking two wickets in as many balls as England made an energetic start to their bid to retain top spot in the Test rankings.
Wickets
Tillakaratne Dilshan (eight) twice dispatched him to the boundary only to nick the next ball fine to wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who gathered in a low catch.
Then Anderson snared Kumar Sangakkara for a golden duck for the second time in the series, the former captain edging to England skipper Andrew Strauss at first slip, who took the catch at the second attempt.
Jayawardene flicked the hat-trick ball for four but Anderson (3-52) was not finished, trapping Lahiru Thirimanne for eight after he padded up to a delivery that was destined for middle stump, with the lbw decision being confirmed after review.
That brought Samaraweera to the crease and he soon set about rebuilding the innings with his captain as the two remained solid to take the score to 82-3 at lunch.
Anderson could not strike again in a shorter spell at the beginning of the afternoon session as Sri Lanka passed the 100 mark and Jayawardene brought up his half-century.
Finn thought he had Samaraweera caught at short-leg for 36 only for the umpires - both on the field and on review - to disagree, a verdict that left the England players and team director Andy Flower unimpressed.
Sri Lanka's run-rate was not exactly electric - although Jayawardene did hammer Samit Patel for the first six of the day - and it was Bresnan who finally broke the steady progress.
The Yorkshireman ended 42 wicketless overs by going full and straight at Samaraweera, trapping the 35-year-old lbw.
Jayawardene brought up his century after tea but added just five more runs before the off-spin of Graeme Swann trapped him lbw, with umpire Asad Rauf finally raising his finger after a lengthy appeal. The decision was upheld on review.
Prasanna Jayawardene then came and went, attempting to defend a Finn delivery but only succeeding in edging the ball to a diving Prior.
Angelo Mathews saw out the rest of the day on an unbeaten 41, while Suraj Randiv (five not out) will return to the middle alongside him on day two.