New Zealand have beaten Sri Lanka by 167 runs on the last day at P Sara Oval to end a nine-Test winless run since January.
The drought included five straight Test defeats, including the first Test in Galle last week, a humiliating 10-wicket loss in three days.
New Zealand bowled out Sri Lanka for 195 in their second innings, five overs after tea.
Angelo Mathews was last out, for a dogged 84 off 228 balls in just under five hours. He was the only batsman to score more than 30.
Sri Lanka started the day at 47-4, 316 runs away from an unlikely victory, and toiled in seeking a draw to win the series 1-0.
But the equally desperate New Zealanders kept chipping away with wickets; one in the morning, two after lunch, and the last three in a sudden rush at the end to win a test in Sri Lanka for the first time since 1998.
Brief Scores
New Zealand 412 (Taylor 142, Williamson 135, Herath 6-103) and 194 for 9 dec (Taylor 74)
Sri Lanka 227 (Samaraweera 76, Mathews 47, Southee 5-62, Boult 4-42) and 195 (Mathews 84, Southee 3-58, Boult 3-33)
Status New Zealand won by 167 runs
MOM Ross Taylor (New Zealand)
Player of the series Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)
