Michael Clarke's side sewed up the series with a game to play thanks to another destructive bowling performance as the hosts were dismissed for 132.
Off-spinner Xavier Doherty claimed career-best figures of four for 28 while veteran quick Brett Lee also took four scalps as Sri Lanka lost their last eight wickets for 37 runs.
Shaun Marsh then hit 70 as Australia cruised to their victory target with the comfort 22 overs to spare.
Marsh was recalled to the top of the order in place of the out-of-form Brad Haddin and, while he lost Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting early on, a 97-run stand with skipper Clarke ensured the series-clinching win.
Marsh had not played an ODI since a hamstring injury ruled him out of the World Cup and he looked intent on re-establishing his place with a composed knock.
The Western Australian has proved himself an able batsman on the sub-continent, most notably at the Indian Premier League, and he did his reputation no harm as he crashed 11 fours and a six in reaching 70 from 80 balls.
Marsh's only mistake was to fall 10 runs short of the victory target when he got a thin edge off debutant Seekkuge Prasanna through to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.
With victory in sight Australia then briefly wobbled as the Hussey brothers, Michael and David, both fell without scoring in the next three balls, but Clarke saw his side home unbeaten on 38.
Sri Lanka elected to bat after an vastly-improved batting performance secured them their first win in the five-game series in midweek, but they were soon in trouble.
Skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan edged a short Doug Bollinger delivery behind before Lee struck for the first time bowling Upul Tharanga, who struck a century in the midweek game, with a slower ball.
Sri Lanka began to rally thanks to veteran duo Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, but after they added 71 runs the rot set in.
Doherty broke their stand when Sangakkara (31) loosely drove him to Lee at deep mid-off before trapping Chamara Silva lbw for a duck two balls later.
Doherty was gifted his third wicket when Angelo Mathews missed a reckless swipe and was stumped.
The Sri Lanka tail then disintegrated when the speed of Lee was too much as he removed Shaminda Eranga, Malinga and finally Jayawardene after he had provided some resistance with 53.
The fifth and final match of the series will also be played in Colombo on Monday.
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