Chaminda Vaas claimed four for 28 as England were bowled out for 81 in just 30.5 overs in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
England finished the day in disarray after being asked to follow-on, reaching the close on 2-0 and still trailing by 416 runs with two days left in the game.
The tourists, who are 1-0 down in the series, will resume with both Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook on one not out.
Sri Lanka had earlier piled up 499 for eight declared with Mahela Jayawardene extending his overnight score to 213 not out.
England lost the wickets of Michael Vaughan (one), Ian Bell (one), Alastair Cook (13) and Kevin Pietersen (one) during a calamitous 40-minute session before lunch.
Vaughan was trapped lbw as he padded-up to a big in-swinger from Chaminda Vaas and Bell was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Vaas then found the outside edge of Cook, who felt for an outswinger, and Lasith Malinga produced a brutish short delivery to have Pietersen caught behind taking evasive action.
Wickets tumbled again straight the break with Ravi Bopara (nought) chipping a catch to mid on and Matthew Prior being clean bowled by a Vaas delivery that kept low.
The tourists were steadied by Paul Colingwood (29) and Ryan Sidebottom (11) who added 37 for the seventh wicket.
TROPICAL RAIN
Play was interrupted during the mid-afternoon due to a tropical downpour, but England's collapse continued when play resumed late in the evening, losing their last four wickets for 11 runs.
Off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan started the final slide as Sidebottom was snapped up at bat pad.
Debutante pace bowler Chanaka Welegedera then bowled Collingwood and had Matthew Hoggard caught at slip for a duck.
The innings ended in farce with Monty Panesar run out after not responding to a call from Steve Harmison.
Earlier, Jayawardene had extended his overnight score of 149 - a record 21st century for Sri Lanka - to reach his fourth double hundred.
Sri Lanka raised the tempo of the innings as they pursued quick runs, adding 115 runs in just 19.5 overs.
Jayawardene's remarkable innings -- on a pitch that has been helpful for the bowlers throughout the first three days -- lasted 10 hours and 13 minutes, spanning 411 deliveries and including 25 boundaries.
The Sri Lanka captain brought up his double century with a glorious lofted cover drive of Steve Harmison.
Jayawardene was supported by Vaas, who scored 90 from 133 deliveries during partnership that added 183 runs for the seventh wicket -- a Sri Lanka record against England.
England's fielding was once again poor with Matthew Prior grassing his third catch of the innings, this time off Jayawardene early in the session.
The ground fielding of the tired tourists also became shoddy with frequent misfields and fumbles.
England's most successful bowler was Steve Harmison with 3 for 104 from 34 overs.
