Only 38 overs out of a scheduled 90 were possible on the opening day of what was the first Test ever staged at the home of southern county Hampshire.
But that was enough time for England, 1-0 up in this series, to rip through a top order lacking Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, out with a broken thumb suffered while making 193 in the drawn second Test at Lord's.
By contrast stand-in skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, the tourists' two most experienced batsmen, managed just six runs between them.
James Anderson marked his comeback to England duty by taking two wickets, while Chris Tremlett, who troubled Sri Lanka with his pace and bounce, also struck twice on the ground where he made his name.
Anderson ended the day with a return of 2 for 24 in 16 overs while Tremlett, who until his move to Surrey last season played for Hampshire, had 2 for 17 in just 11.
Sri Lanka was in dire straits at 4 for 39, with Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene both back in the pavilion.
But Thilan Samaraweera (24 not out) and Prasanna Jayawardene (10 not out) prevented further collapse with an unbroken stand of 42.
Anderson, who missed Lord's with a side injury, was recalled in place of Steven Finn as England looked to build on a series lead secured by an innings and 14-run victory in the first Test in Cardiff.
England, after captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and fielded, saw Anderson strike in the 13th over.
Test debutant Lahiru Thirimanne, in for Dilshan, edged to Strauss at first slip and fell for 10.
Sri Lanka spent more than an hour on 1 for 23 because of a rain break.
But five balls after the resumption, that became 2 for 23 when opener Tharanga Paranavitana was LBW on the back foot to a full length swinging delivery from Tremlett.
Sangakkara, the third left-hander in Sri Lanka's top three, is one of the world's leading batsmen, with an impressive Test average of more than 56 coming into this match.
Yet the gifted strokemaker, who resigned the captaincy after Sri Lanka's World Cup final defeat by India in Mumbai in April, has often struggled in England.
And on day one he only made 2 before, trying to drive an Anderson delivery that cut away off the pitch, he was caught behind by Matt Prior.
It took Sangakkara's tally for the series to a meagre 65 runs at an average of 13.
Another lengthy rain break followed before, in late evening sunshine, Tremlett produced a lifting delivery that Mahela Jayawardene could only edge to wicketkeeper Prior to leave Sri Lanka 4 for 39.
But Samaraweera gave Sri Lanka something to cheer with a stylish cover-driven four off Anderson.
- AFP
Tags: sport, cricket, sri-lanka, united-kingdom, england
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