England toil in tour opener
Tharanga helped a Sri Lanka Board President's XI to 218 for three after 61 overs on a rain-shortened first day. His fine 167-ball innings included eight fours and a six.
Malinda Warnapura, also competing for a Test spot, made 48 although he should have been caught in the gully early on by Ian Bell, one of three dropped chances by England.
Chamara Kapudegera, dropped just before the close by Alistair Cook, finished the day on 48 not out before a tropical downpour interrupted play.
Stuart Broad claimed the first wicket of this trip as England's bowlers were given an immediate chance to acclimatise.
Broad was into the attack for the 12th over of the innings and struck in his second over when Dilruwan Perera gloved one through to the wicketkeeper, attempting to withdraw his hands from the line of a short one.
Two cobras provided the lunchtime entertainment - Broad was made aware of the snakes' presence yards from the boundary edge late in the morning session, and the majority of the players made for the area when the umpires called lunch.
Ryan Sidebottom, who shared the new ball with Hoggard, delivered a fine afternoon spell - which included the removal of left-hander Warnapura, trapped lbw on the back foot.
Sri Lanka's second string were then reduced to 126 for three in the next over when home captain Tillekaratne Dilshan skied to deep cover off Monty Panesar.
But Panesar and off spinner Graham Swann were hit for 107 runs in 20 overs.
England, who are rotating 16 players in the match, will have been satisfied by the economy of their fast bowlers. However, the spinners found life tougher with Panesar conceding five boundaries in his first over.
England fast bowler Steve Harmison joined the squad from South Africa and is expected to bowl on Wednesday.
The tourists will play three Tests against Sri Lanka starting on December 1 in Kandy.
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England toil in tour opener
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