India lost four wickets for 70 runs on the second day of the Galle Test, allowing Sri Lanka to regain momentum after the visitors resumed at 288/2.
Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul fell for 12 and 5 runs respectively to debutant spinner Keshara Nuwantha, stalling India's progress toward a projected 500-run total.
Dhruv Jurel provided a late recovery with a 51-run innings and a 55-run partnership with Manav Suthar, keeping India in the contest despite the earlier top-order failure.