Sri Lanka, set a victory target of 270 runs, were 0-27 in five overs at lunch on the fifth day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Pallekele on Thursday.
Tharanga Paranavitana was unbeaten on nine and Dinesh Chandimal was on 14, with Sri Lanka still requiring 243 runs more in a minimum of 66 overs to take the series 2-0.
The tourists, who need a series-levelling win, declared their second innings at 8-380 half-an-hour before lunch as soon as Asad Shafiq completed his century.
Sri Lanka won the first Test in Galle by 209 runs, while the second in Colombo was drawn.