Pallekele, February 22 Phil Salt scored a quick 62 off 40 balls, but lacked support as a disciplined Sri Lanka restricted England to 146 for nine in their T20 World Cup Super Eights clash here on Sunday.
Jos Buttler (7), Jacob Bethell (3) and Tom Banton (6) were dismissed for single-digit scores as England's batting faltered after Sri Lanka chose to field.
Sri Lanka were clinical with the ball, with left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage (3/26), the tidy Maheesh Theekshana (2/21) and Dilshan Madushanka (2/25) leading the attack.
Brief Scores:
England: 146/9 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 62; Dunith Wellalage 3/26, Maheesh Theekshana 2/21, Dilshan Madushanka 2/25).
