But during that time Sri Lanka tightened their grip on this match as off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, returning to international cricket after being rested during the NatWest triangular series last month, claimed his second wicket of the innings.

Animul Islam (0) was well caught by Russel Arnold, diving forward at short leg after he bat-padded a catch whilst trying to play defensively.

Bangladesh were left tottering on 118 for five at the tea interval. Their hopes of a decent first innings score now resting with Aminul Islam (5*) and captain Khaled Mushud (0*).

Right-handed Sarker, 19, scored 55 from 69 balls, hitting eight boundaries in a stylish innings that had appeared to put Bangladesh in the driving seat.

But minutes before the luncheon interval Sri Lanka grabbed two quick wickets, leaving Bangladesh precariously placed on 111-4 at the break.

Sri Lanka had won the toss in the morning and elected to field, hoping to exploit a pitch that traditionally offers the pace bowlers lateral movement in the first hour.

However, Sri Lanka's new ball bowlers failed to make significant inroads, taking just one wicket in the first hour.

Left-arm swing bowler Sujeewa de Silva, 22, a playing his first Test, struck the first blow when he trapped Al Sahariar (13) lbw with a well-pitched inswinger.

Ehsanul Haque scored just two runs in 30 minutes before he was bowled off his pads by fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who had replaced his namesake Buddika from the Press Block End.

Bangladesh, 50 for two at that stage, than fought back as Habibul Bashar, 29, joined Sarker to build a 57 stand for the third wicket.

Just when Bangladesh looked to have grabbed the initiative, with both Sarker and Bashar scoring freely, Sri Lanka's spinners snapped up two quick wickets.

Jayasuriya trapped Sarker lbw off the first ball of his spell as the right-hander tried to work the left-arm spinner through the leg-side.

And four minutes later Bashar, one of Bangladesh's most consistent batsmen, scorer of nine fifties and one hundred in his previous 11 Tests, was also trapped lbw, this time by off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Earlier in the day Sri Lanka had left out veteran left-hander Hashan Tillakaratne, preferring to play wicket-keeper Prassana Jayawardene.

Sujeewa de Silva was picked to play his first Test as Sri Lanka's selectors left out Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa out of the squad.

Bangladesh, playing their first Test under new coach Mohsin Kamal, named a new-look side, giving four players their first cap.

Bangladesh have lost 10 of their last 11 Test matches.

Sri Lanka named an experienced side, resting only veteran left-hander Hashan Tillakaratne and left-arm pace bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa.

The selectors had wanted to rest other senior players but, despite fears of player burnout, this was opposed by Jayasuriya, who voiced his concerns directly to the Sports Minister earlier in the week.

Muttiah Muralitharan returned to the team after recovering from a shoulder injury that had forced him to miss the recent NatWest triangular series in England.

Sujeewa de Silva, 22, a left-arm pace bowler from Sebastianites Cricket Club, made his debut, whilst Sri Lanka also played full-time wicket keeper Prassana Jayawardene.

Bangladesh, playing their 12th Test match, named a side with four new faces, including batsmen Ehsanul Hoque and Abdul Sarker and seamers Alamgir Kabir and Talha Jubaer for the first time.

The side is captained by Khaled Mashud, who has played in all Bangladesh's Tests.

This is Bangladesh's first game under Pakistan coach Mohsin Kamal.

P. Saravanmuttu Stadium is hosting its first Test match since 1994 following a recent revamp to its facilities.