skies on the second day, the tourists were restricted to 22 runs in the first 15 overs by some accurate bowling by the Sri Lankans.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli survived a torrid opening over from Prasad in which he was lucky to escape a loud shout for leg-before off the second ball and was beaten by the final ball of the over.
Kohli added four runs to his overnight score of 14 when Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews, who replaced Prasad at the bowling crease, had his counterpart caught behind by Kusal Perera.
Pujara added 55 for the fourth wicket with Rohit Sharma (26) and 54 for the sixth with debutant wicket-keeper Naman Ojha (21).
Prasad had Rohit Sharma caught in the slips off what became the final delivery of the morning session and then trapped Stuart Binny leg-before with the first ball on resumption.
Prasad said it was a delight to be able to bowl on a helpful surface.
“I am enjoying bowling on it, but you have to make sure you don’t get carried away,” he said.
Prasad conceded Sri Lanka had let the advantage slip, but hoped India’s innings will end early on Sunday (today).
“We had them seven down for 180, but then came the century stand between Pujara and Mishra,” he said. “That put us back a little, but I think we can get back into a good position if we take the remaining wickets early.”
The series is locked at 1-1 after Sri Lanka won the opening Test in Galle by 63 runs and India drew level with a 278-run win in the second match at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Monday.
Score Board
Sri Lanka won toss
India 1st innings
K L Rahul b Prasad 2
C A Pujara not out 135
A M Rahane lbw b Pradeep 8
*V Kohli c Perera b Mathews 18
R G Sharma c Tharanga b Prasad 26
S T R Binny lbw b Prasad 0
†N V Ojha c Tharanga b Kaushal 21
R Ashwin c Perera b Prasad 5
A Mishra st Perera b Herath 59
I Sharma not out 2
Extras (lb 2, w 3, nb 6, pen 5) 16
Total (8 wickets; 95.3 overs) 292
To bat: U T Yadav
Fall: 1-2, 2-14, 3-64, 4-119, 5-119, 6-173, 7-180, 8-284
Bowling: Prasad 23.3-4-83-4 (3nb); Pradeep 22-6-52-1 (3w); Mathews 13-6-24-1; Herath 25-3-81-1; Kaushal 12-2-45-1 (3nb)
Sri Lanka team
F D M Karunaratne, J K Silva, W U Tharanga, H D R L Thirimanne, *A D Mathews, L D Chandimal, †M D K J Perera, K T G D Prasad, H M R K B Herath, P H T Kaushal, N Pradeep
Test debuts: N V Ojha (India); M D K J Perera (Sri Lanka)
Umpires: N J Llong (England) and R J Tucker (Australia). TV umpire: R R Wimalasiri. Match referee: A J Pycroft (Zimbabwe)