Mahela Jayawardene cracked an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka took control on Day One of the first Test against New Zealand.
Jayawardene scored an unbeaten 108, his 26th Test century, as the hosts put the Black Caps' attack to the sword on a pitch which had assisted the fast bowlers at the start.
Chris Martin had secured early breakthroughs with the new ball, striking off successive overs to reduce Sri Lanka to 16 for two inside the first three overs.
Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, however, gave the home side impetus with a belligerent 92, while Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera carried the momentum forward, helping the home side reach 293 for three at stumps.
Samaraweera is unbeaten on 82 and has so far added 159 for the fourth wicket with Jayawardene.
The start of play in the morning was delayed due to rain and, when play finally began 90 minutes late, the Black Caps gained the early advantage.
Martin, who immediately found movement in the air and off the pitch, removed opener Tharanga Paranavitana for a duck with his third delivery with the new ball.
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The paceman got one to slant across the left-hander and flick the edge which wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum easily gloved.
Kumar Sangakkara then began his innings with two classy drives which fetched boundaries, but he was snared by Martin for nine while attempting a third.
Sangakkara had attempted to chip one through mid-wicket, but instead picked out Daniel Flynn.
New Zealand's success ended there, though, as Dilshan and Jayawardene commenced the task of rebuilding with some enthusiasm.
Dilshan, shunted to the opening slot for the first time in his career, had started the innings with customary belligerence, hitting the first delivery he faced for a brace through midwicket and smashing a couple of boundaries in the same over from Iain O'Brien.
O'Brien had shared the new ball with Martin and was soon clubbed out of the attack - his first four overs went for 40 runs - as Dilshan quickly closed in on a half-century.
He reached the mark off just 30 deliveries with a boundary off Martin as the home side pegged the Black Caps back in the first session.
Dilshan looked good for a century, but his 72-delivery stay ended when he dragged a poor delivery from O'Brien back onto his stumps, falling just after the lunch interval.
Dilshan hit 12 boundaries and a six, putting on 118 for the third wicket with Jayawardene.
The former captain then assumed command following the departure of Dilshan.
It's all about numbers
Jayawardene drove Daniel Vettori for a couple of runs to long-off to get past the 50-run mark and pulled O'Brien to the midwicket fence to secure his 26th Test century.
Jayawardene's only false stroke came a delivery later, an edge which flew safely through the slip cordon.
Samaraweera, who had an ordinary series against Pakistan, made a slow start but grew in confidence as his innings progressed.
He drove off-spinner Jeetan Patel for two boundaries in the same over to bring up his 20th Test half-century and smashed a third in the same over to fetch 13 from it.
Jayawardene has struck 14 boundaries so far, while Samaraweera has clubbed 11.
Another five overs of the 83 deemed possible at the start remained when play ended due to bad light.
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