Sri Lanka reached 1-64 at lunch on the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah on Thursday.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne (34) and Kumar Sangakkara (12) were at the crease after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat on a flat Sharjah stadium pitch.
Pakistan removed opener Kaushal Silva, caught behind off paceman Mohammad Talha for 17.
Sri Lanka leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets.
The first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.