Australia will now need to take 15 wickets in two days after play was abandoned early on day three of the first Test at Galle.
Sri Lanka started the day at 3-44 after Australia declared on 6-654.
Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal resumed the innings on day three and combined for a 37-run partnership, the biggest for Sri Lanka.
RECAP: Australia v Sri Lanka first Test, day three
However, Mendis was dismissed for 15 after nicking a Mitchell Starc delivery down the legside with Alex Carey taking the catch.
Australia's Mitchell Starc leaves the ground as rain interrupts play. AP
Starc's wicket appeared to be a stroke of genius from he and captain Steve Smith after they dropped a fielder on the boundary behind square leg.
No doubt Mendis expected a short-pitched delivery but instead was on his way to the pavilion for a soft dismissal.
Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva was the next man in as he and Chandimal attempted to rescue the innings.
Both men decided to counter attack and targeted Todd Murphy, with the skipper hitting consecutive fours from the off-spinner's bowling.
However, Dhananjaya's aggression brought him unstuck when he charged down the wicket to Matt Kuhnemann who smartly dropped the ball shorter and wide with Carey taking the stumps.
"Well bowled Kuhnemann … it was a little bit shorter, a little bit wider and a little bit of extra bounce than what he's been getting," Greg Blewett said on the Seven Network.
The skipper was gone for 22 and Sri Lanka were 5-107.
Sri Lanka's last hope in Chandimal pushed on to a half-century and was 63 not out when rain began to pour in Galle, with Kusal Mendis the other man in on 10.
At one stage, covers were coming off with play expected to return but it didn't come to fruition with stumps called early and play abandoned.
Smith will now hope to take wickets quickly on day four, despite more rain forecast.
The Aussie captain will be forced to take the follow-on considering the stage of the match but no doubt prepared for that considering the mammoth total posted.
