India took the series 1-0
Sri Lanka held on in Colombo after following on. Sonal Dinusha made 133 not out.
The second Test at Colombo's SSC was drawn on Thursday. India took the two-match series 1-0 after winning in Galle.
Sri Lanka, asked to follow on 213 behind, closed on 429 for 9 in 154 overs. Sonal Dinusha was unbeaten on 133 from 264 balls. That was his third hundred of the series, and a century in each innings of this Test, after 103 in the first.
India had declared on 503 for 9. Devdutt Padikkal made 117. Dhruv Jurel made 115 not out. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 290 first time around. On the last morning they resumed 229 for 6. Keshara Nuwantha made 46 in a 112-run stand with Dinusha. Manav Suthar finished with 3 for 121. Ravindra Jadeja took 3 for 94.
Shubman Gill said the pitch got slower, and that Sri Lanka were playing for the draw. He defended the follow-on: "You take the best decision you can in the moment." He also said, "It was a brilliant game and I think Test cricket won today." India picked off-spinner Saransh Jain over Kuldeep Yadav for this Test. Gill said India still have a chance at the World Test Championship final if they do well in New Zealand and then win a series in Australia.
ESPNcricinfo recorded 4 World Test Championship points each from the draw. India had won Galle by 165 runs.
India came to the last day needing four wickets and left with a series, not a sweep.
Dinusha is the story Sri Lanka will keep. Before this match, they had lost 24 of 27 Tests after following on, and all eight of those defeats against India.
India go to New Zealand. Gill said they need at least one win there before the Australia series.