Captain Mahela Jayawardene's century made sure England would have to bat again and raised Sri Lanka's hopes of saving the first Test at Lord's.
Jayawardene fell controversially for 119 before bad light ended day four with Sri Lanka 381-6, leading by 22.
Jayawardene and Farveez Maharoof (59) were both dropped at slip in a century partnership that occupied the morning.
Tillakaratne Dilshan then joined his skipper in a stand of 68 and was unbeaten on 39 at the close.
In all there were three breaks for light, with around two hours lost and, with more poor weather forecast for Monday, time is running out for England to finish off the tourists.
"I don't have to see the replays - I knew - but as a cricketer you have to take those things with your head high"
And the chances of a result will diminish further if Sri Lanka build a target for the home side to chase.
Jayawardene became the first Sri Lankan to hit 1,000 runs against England and the first to score two centuries at Lord's, following his 107 at HQ four years ago.
He given out in the middle of a seven-over session late in the day, Geraint Jones taking an apparent edge off a short Andrew Flintoff delivery for his 100th Test dismissal.
But replays showed only Jayawardene's jersey had made contact with the ball as it passed down leg side.
England's bowling was outstanding for much of the day, with three slips in place for much of it.
But members of the fielding cordon were to blame for two missed chances that gave second lives to both Jayawardene and Maharoof.
Maharoof - promoted up the order from eight to five - was put down on 30 when Paul Collingwood failed to hang on to a difficult, high, one-handed chance at third slip, to bowler Flintoff's dismay.
In the very next over it was Matthew Hoggard who was venting his frustration as Andrew Strauss dropped his second chance of the match, at knee height, with Jayawardene on 58.
Jayawardene reached three figures from 191 balls, with 11 fours, the majority behind square on the off side.
He celebrated reaching three figures while lying face down after diving to beat a throw at the stumps only to see the ball race away for four over-throws.
Maharoof played patiently to get within striking distance of his fifty, before hitting successive deliveries from Liam Plunkett for four and six to get there in 133 deliveries.
Plunkett improved massively on the wayward display of Friday evening, although he remained wicketess.
He was just one of the England bowlers unlucky not to strike in the first hour as they found impressive swing with the older ball.
The men who began day three were those who began day four, although a collapse and an enforced follow-on came in between.
Jayawardene resumed on 35 and Maharoof on five with their side 183-3.
Hoggard shaved Maharoof's bat in the first over of the day, while Plunkett bowled his most impressive spell of the match.
And in his single over of medium pace, Collingwood saw Maharoof edge just in front of first slip.