Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva added an unbeaten 100 to boost Sri Lanka to 217-5 on day one of the second Test against West Indies in Trinidad.
Fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor reduced the Sri Lankans to 117-5, but Dilshan (58 not out) and Silva (37 not out) fought back.
Only 46.3 overs were possible on a rain-interrupted day after home team captain Chris Gayle had won the toss.
Edwards (3-50) gave one of his best displays at Test level.
The quick bowler, recalled to the side after missing the Guyana defeat, claimed the wickets of Malinda Warnapura (35) and Kumar Sangakkara (10) to reduce Sri Lanka to 89-2 at lunch.
Two lengthy rain delays meant that only 12.2 overs were bowled in the afternoon session but that was enough for West Indies to claim three victims, including Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene (26) for only 50 runs.
Jayawardene looked bemused that Taylor's superb delivery, which cut away off the seam, managed to beat his defences and flick the top of his off-stump.
"We have to be a bit more patient, keep the runs down but get them out as quick as possible"
But, with the momentum firmly with the home side, the rain then returned and another hour before tea was lost.
At the close Dilshan, ably supported by Silva, had struck seven boundaries against a tiring West Indies' attack.
Edwards, who took five wickets against Sri Lanka on his Test debut in Jamaica in 2003, blamed the wet conditions for his team's disappointing final session.
"The ball stopped swinging and was wet and heavy - I think it helped them more than it helped us," he said.
"We have to be a bit more patient, keep the runs down but get them out as quick as possible."
Sri Lanka handed a debut to 30-year-old fast bowler Ishara Amerasinghe, while the hosts gave a first cap to spinner Sewnarine Chattergoon.
Friday's play will begin 30 minutes earlier than scheduled 1430 BST.
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