Malinga, who returned with exceptional figures of four for 43 in his 10 overs, became only the second Sri Lankan to pick 50 World Cup wickets.
Malinga dismissed dangermen Jos Buttler and Joe Root among his victims in a devastating spell that ruined England's bid to chase down Sri Lanka's modest total of 232/9.
Archer took 3-52 – his fifth three-wicket haul in six matches this World Cup – to join Australia's Mitchell Starc on 15 wickets.
Bairstow sent a timely reminder of what he is capable of through his Player-of-the-Match worthy performance.
Buttler added that he took a cue from former Australia captain Michael Clarke, who had employed a similar tactic against England’s spinners during one of the Ashes encounter.
Sri Lanka were reeling at 53-4 at the close of the third day as they chased an unlikely 327 to avoid suffering only their third whitewash series defeat on home territory.
Jonny Bairstow laid down a marker to be England's permanent number three on Friday but Sri Lanka clawed their way back into the final Test with late wickets.
Jonny Bairstow stormed to 81 not out in the third Test on Friday, shining in England's troubled number three spot, as Sri Lanka's bowlers toiled.
A total of 38 wickets fell to spinners, which is a record for the most number of dismissals to spin in a Test match.
After claiming England’s first series win in England in over 17 years and first win in Asia for six years, skipper Joe Root is aiming for the No.1 spot in ICC Test rankings.