Marvan Atapattu fell shortly after lunch for 133

Skipper Marvan Atapattu led the fightback with a knock of 133 as Sri Lanka moved to within 106 runs of Australia's first innings total.

The tourists resumed on 184-2 and made it to lunch without losing a wicket, putting on 96 runs.

Shortly after the interval, Glenn McGrath removed Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene fell to Mike Kasprowicz.

But Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan took Sri Lanka past the follow-on mark, before Warne snared Dilshan.

It was Atapattu's 15th Test century and it was achieved by hitting 19 fours in a five-hour innings.

Samaraweera hit his sixth Test half-century but it was a dogged performance coming in just under three hours and included five fours.

He was unbeaten on 53 at the end of play with wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana on 30 not out despite being hit on the helmet by a Jason Gillespie bouncer.

Light rain in Cairns interrupted play to force an early tea and bad light later brought play to an early close.

Australia: J Langer, M Hayden, R Ponting (capt), D Martyn, D Lehmann, S Katich, A Gilchrist, S Warne, J Gillespie, M Kasprowicz, G McGrath

Sri Lanka: M Atapattu (capt), S Jayasuriya, K Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, T Samaraweera, TM Dilshan, R Kaluwitharana (capt), U Chandana, C Vaas, N Zoysa, L Malinga.

Umpires: B Bowden (NZ) & A Dar (Pak)