Naseem Shah appeals for the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva during the day one of the second Test match in Colombo on Monday. AP

After electing to bat first at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Sri Lanka got off to a bad start when opening batsman Nishan Madushka was run out for 4 in the third over.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne pushed the ball into the covers and attempted a single but Shan Masood threw down the stumps with a direct hit.

Pakistan was again excellent in the field and Masood also ran out tail-ender Prabath Jayasuriya with a direct hit later in the day. But the damage for Sri Lanka was done in the morning session as it slumped to 36-4.

Sri Lanka was guilty of throwing away wickets. Kusal Mendis hit one straight to cover on 6, Angelo Mathews was caught behind for 9 and Karunaratne dragged the ball onto the stumps after attempting an expansive drive on 17.

An 85-run stand for the fifth wicket steadied the innings before Dinesh Chandimal, who had been peppered by short bowling, hit Naseem straight to mid-wicket on 34.

Dhananjaya de Silva, who shared the big partnership with Chandimal, top-scored with 57 before falling to Abrar.

Pakistan leads the two-match series 1-0, having won in Galle by four wickets.