Replying to Sri Lanka's 537 all out, the hosts had made a promising start in reaching the close of day two on 88 for one.
But with Lakmal and Perera striking in quick succession, Zimbabwe fell from 92 for one to 139 for six before Peter Moor and Graeme Cremer stabilised the innings, taking the home side to lunch on 174 for six.
A rash shot from opener Tino Mawoyo started the collapse, as he pulled a Lakmal delivery straight to deep midwicket to depart for 45.
With Craig Ervine and Malcolm Waller trapped lbw in consecutive overs from Perera, Zimbabwe slipped deeper into the mire before Moor counter-attack effectively.
The wicketkeeper-batsman launched two elegant sixes off the Sri Lankan spinners to go to lunch unbeaten on 25 from 26 balls, while Cremer was on a more sedate 10 not out.
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