Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith were fluent, and were looking comfortable at the crease when the skies opened up.
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No play was possible after tea due to rain, prompting the umpires to call stumps at 4:15pm.
Play will resume Wednesday at the earlier time of 9:45 a.m.to make up some of the overs lost by the weather.
SLC is not very happy with the way the former off-spinner has gone about his business and president of the board Thilanga Sumathipala confirmed that they had lodged a complaint with Cricket Australia.
Australia rolled Sri Lanka all out for 117 on day one of the first Test in Kandy, before rain halted their chances of building a first-innings lead.
Seamer Mitchell Starc (2-51) and left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O’Keefe (2-32) also contributed as ball dominated bat in the first opening sessions.
Hazlewood went on to get Kaushal Silva (4) caught in the slips to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 21 for here at the 10-over mark.
“I think we made the most of that and hopefully we do that again in the second innings”. “I thought if we bowl well, which we did, we would get a few wickets early”, Hazlewood told reporters.
The pair, widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s most accomplished batsmen, put on 25, the highest partnership of the innings, but captain Mathews perished for 15 after edging slow left-armer Steve O’Keefe to slip.
Sri Lanka’s top scorer was Dhananjaya de Silva who managed a modest 24 before he was caught at short leg off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.
In his video statement, Muralitharan said he had not received any approach from the Sri Lankan board to help the island’s next generation of spinners and accused it of favouring foreign coaches over locals.
“We don’t know too much about these guys”.
Josh Hazlewood took three top order wickets as the hosts slumped to 67 for five, despite winning the toss under blue skies, and their innings was ended after 34.2 overs.
Khawaja has so far hit four boundaries in his 54-ball knock while Smith had three fours as he faced 46 deliveries.
The dry state of the pitch means reverse swing is likely to play a big role along with spin as the ball wears faster, although in only four previous Tests at Pallekele there has been some movement in the air with the new ball. Perera b Lyon 20 M.D.K. Perera lbw b Lyon 0 H.M.R.K.B.
Muralitharan confronted Sri Lankan team manager Charith Senanyake about a rumour he secured a spin friendly wicket for the Australians who are set to use Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’Keefe for the game.
Australia wins in Sri Lanka.
TO BAT: A.C. Voges, M.R. Marsh.
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Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc was back after a long injury layoff to lead Australia’s pace attack.
