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, have yet to score a fifty this series and managed a mere six runs combined on Thursday.
James Anderson marked his comeback to England duty by taking two wickets, while the 6ft 7in 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 two for 24 runs in 16 overs while Tremlett, who until his move to Surrey last season played for Hampshire, had two for 17 in just 11.
Sri Lanka were in dire straits at 39 for four.
But Thilan Samaraweera (24 not out) and Prasanna Jayawardene (10 not out) prevented further collapse with an unbroken stand of 42.
"It was nice, I played here for a long time and it's been a couple of years since I've been back, so it was nice of the Hampshire fans to welcome me back," said Tremlett.
"I think as a whole we bowled pretty well. It was certainly an improvement on last week (at Lord's).
"It was impressive for Jimmy to come back in without any overs. The Twenty20 game he was going to play in got washed out but he hit his straps straightaway, so credit to him," Tremlett added.
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 23 for one because of a rain break.
But five balls after the resumption, that became 23 for two when opener Tharanga Paranavitana was lbw on the back foot to a full length swinging delivery from Tremlett.
Sangakkara is one of the world's leading batsmen, with an impressive Test average of more than 56 coming into this match.
But on Thursday he only made two 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 39 for four.
"Sangakkara will be pretty unhappy seeing the replay of the shot he played.
"Tharanga lost it half-way down the track; the debutant (Thirimanne) got a good ball, and Mahela got a beauty," said Sri Lanka batting coach Marvan Atapattu.
The former Test opener also offered an implied rebuke to Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene for arriving late on tour following stints in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League.
"People coming from 50-over and then 20-over versions doesn't really help... You're in a country where your technique is going to be tested.
"It doesn't happen overnight; you need some time. This is why players need to get to a place like England, play a few practice games, get runs and get into Test level." (AFP)
