England faced a modest target of 94 to win the second Test against Sri Lanka after dismissing the hosts for 278 in their second innings just before lunch on the fifth day on Saturday.
Offspinner Graeme Swann picked up six wickets in the innings to finish with a match haul of 10.
Resuming at 6-218, Sri Lanka survived some close chances as the batsmen struggled to handle sharp turn and sometimes steep bounce at P. Sara Oval.
Anjelo Mathews was dropped twice at forward short-leg by Alastair Cook but the fielder was successful in his third attempt to dismiss Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene for 64.
Mathews was last man out for 46.
England, who lost the first Test in Galle, need a win to level the two-match series and retain their No.1 ranking.