Sri Lanka reached 164 for three at stumps in response to Pakistan’s worst-ever Test innings against the hosts, eclipsing their 117 in the first Test at Galle last week.
Opener Malinda Warnapura was trapped leg before by seamer Umar Gul for 11 with the total on 28 before Sri Lanka captain Sangakkara partnered with Tharanga Paranavitana for a determined 54-run partnership for the second wicket.
Sangakkara completed his 31st Test half-century, and looked set for a hundred when play ended for the day.
Earlier, seam bowler Nuwan Kulasekera claimed four wickets to bundle out Pakistan as they struggled against the new ball on a seaming pitch after Younis Khan won the toss and chose to bat at the P Sara Oval.
Kulasekera first dismissed Manzoor for three when the opener pushed at an inswinger and was caught by wicket-keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan with the total on four. Younis was out for a duck to left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara, while Mohammad Yousuf square-drove Kulasekera and was caught at point.
Misbah-ul-Haq edged a Kulasekera delivery to Dilshan without scoring as Pakistan collapsed to 19 for four. Kulasekera returned figures four for 21, while Ajantha Mendis took three for 20 and Thushara two for 23.
SCORE BOARD
PAKISTAN (I Innings):
Manzoor c Dilshan b Kulasekara 3
Alam lbw Mathews 16
Younis b Thushara 0
Yousuf c Herath b Kulasekara 10
Misbah c Dilshan b Kulasekara 0
Malik (not out) 39
Akmal c Dilshan b Thushara 9
Rauf lbw Kulasekara 0
Gul c Samaraweera b Mendis 1
Aamer lbw Mendi s2
Ajmal lbw Mendis 0
Extras (B-4, LB-2, NB-2, W-2) 10
Total (all out, 36 overs) 90
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-6, 3-17, 4-19, 5-51, 6-67, 7-74, 8-80, 9-90.
Bowling: Kulasekara 9-3-21-4, Thushara 8-3-23-2, Mendis 10-3-20-3, Mathews 3-0-15-1, Herath 6-3-5-0.
SRI LANKA (I Innings):
Warnapura lbw Gul 11
Paranavitana c Akmal b Ajmal 26
Sangakkara (batting) 81
Jayawardene c Manzoor b Ajmal 19
Samaraweera (batting) 13
Extras (B-8, LB-1, NB-5) 14
Total (for 3 wkts, 48 overs) 164
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-82, 3-133.
Bowling: Umar Gul 10-1-28-1, Mohammad Aamer 9-2-30-0, Abdur Rauf 8-1-31-0, Saeed Ajmal 15-1-45-2, Younis Khan 6-1-21-0.