Sri Lanka, needing 363 to win, were 5-107 in their second innings at lunch on the final day of the second and last Test against New Zealand at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday.
Allrounder Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 27 at the break with Prasanna Jayawardene 23 not out.
Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 following their 10-wicket win in the opening Test in Galle.