Michael Vandort (82) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (49) led Sri Lanka's fightback against Australia but the visitors still trailed by 122 runs before bad light forced an early end to the fourth day of the first Test in Brisbane on Sunday.
On a day punctuated by spells of rain, the Lankans, who were forced to follow on after being bundled out for 211 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 551 for 4 declared, reached 218 for five.
Vandort's 170-ball knock, which was his first half-century against Australia and third overall, included 10 hits to the fence before he became Stuart MacGill's 200th Test victim.
Jayawardene also played a patient innings hitting five fours before departing just one run short of his fifty. The skipper was caught behind by Adam Gilchrist off Mitchell Johnson.
Chamara Silva (5) and Prasanna Jayawardene (0) were on crease when play ended for the day.
