England coach Peter Moores admitted his team faced an uphill struggle after Sri Lanka closed day three of the second Test 28 runs ahead on 379-4.
Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene hit a superb unbeaten 167 as England toiled hard for just two wickets.
"There's been no lack of effort. We're disappointed not to take wickets but we kept them to under three runs an over.
"The game's still on but we've got to take two wickets early and keep their lead to a minimum," said Moores.
England, who need to draw the match to stay in the series, face the prospect of a large first-innings deficit as well as the threat of Muttiah Muralitharan's spin in their second innings.
Their chances will be boosted if they can remove Jayawardene early on Wednesday.
Jayawardene, supported by fellow centurion Michael Vandort, played magnificently on Tuesday to become the first Sri Lankan batsman to pass 7,000 Test runs.
Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Harmison were the only successful bowlers on a tough day for the tourists.
Harmison, playing his first Test since June after overcoming various injuries, got scant reward for his industry but did pick up the wicket of Chamara Silva in the last over before stumps.
"I'm glad he got a wicket at the end of the day," Moores said of the Durham fast bowler.
"He will bowl a lot worse than that and get wickets. I thought Jayawardene played him very well."
Jayawardene, who overtook the recently retired Sanath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka's leading Test run-scorer, said: "I am very honoured to go above Sanath but every day you try to improve - that is what Test cricket is all about."
He also said he expected the wicket to deteriorate.
"If we can just try to bat for a couple more sessions and put 150 or 200 extra on the board we can give Murali something to play with.
"England will have to bat really well," said the 30-year-old.
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