Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey scored centuries as Australia declared their first innings on 551 for 4 and then reduced Sri Lanka to 31-2 on the second day of the first Test in Brisbane on Friday.
Clarke and Hussey, who resumed with Australia's overnight total reading 242-3, were involved in a record partnership of 245 runs before Hussey was dismissed for 133.
When the declaration came, Clarke was unbeaten on 145 and Andrew Symonds on 53.
Sri Lanka had a disastrous start as pacer Brett Lee claimed the scalps of Sanath Jayasuriya and Michael Vandort, both batsmen caught behind by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
For the second successive day, reporters and photographers from Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Associated Press did not cover the Test because of a dispute with Cricket Australia over terms and conditions for accreditation.
