Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka

The Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka is a Buddhist university in Homagama, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1981 and is organized in two faculties.

Objectives


The objectives that were fundamental to the establishment of the university in the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka Act No. 74 of 1981 as amended by the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka Act No. 37 of 1995:

The training of savants in the Buddhist Doctrine and Discipline for the purpose of the dissemination of Buddhism and nurturing of Buddhist missionary activities in Sri Lanka and abroad. The promotion of the study of the Pali Language, Buddhist Culture and Buddhist Philosophy in Sri Lanka and abroad, and the enhancement of those studies as befitting the modern world trends. (a) The training of the student monks and the lay male students to teach Buddhism and Pali Language in the Pirivenas, Schools and in similar institutions. (b) The provision of facilities to maintain and promote courtesy and civility and mental discipline among the student monks and the lay male students. (c) Any other matter connected with or ancillary to the above objectives.

The objective of establishing this university is not merely offering degree programmes as it is done in any other national university. This is an institution that has been established, to achieve the aims of disseminating Dhamma in Sri Lanka and throughout the world, to promote the study of Dhamma and Discipline (Vinaya), to provide facilities for monk students and lay students in pirivenas, schools and other such institutions, teaching pali language and it is also expected to assist the monk students.

The subject stream of this university is confined to Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist Culture, Archaeology, Religious Studies and Comparative Philosophy, Pali, Sanskrit, English and Sinhala. Pali and Buddhist Philosophy or Buddhist Culture is compulsory.

The priority is given to Buddhist monks when selecting students as this is an institution established to uplift, especially, Pali Language studies and Buddhist Studies.

History


The Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka was established by the Act of Parliament No. 74 of 1981 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and was inaugurated in 1982. The objectives of this university were the propagation of Buddhism, the development of Pali and Buddhist Studies in Sri Lanka and foreign countries and the provision of facilities for research in the relevant fields. The above-mentioned Act has been revised by the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka (Amendment) Act No. 37 of 1995. With the activation of the amendments, the affiliated institutions became defunct. The Buddhist and Pali University was restructured in accordance with the structure of the other universities of Sri Lanka.

It is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, International Association of Theravada Buddhist universities

Faculty of Buddhist Studies
Dean, Faculty of Buddhist Studies, Prof. Samantha Illangakoon

Departments:
 * Department of Buddhist Philosophy
 * Department of Religious studies and Comparative Philosophy
 * Department of Buddhist Culture
 * Department of Archaeology

Units:
 * Computer Teaching Unit (CTU)

Faculty of Language Studies
Dean, Faculty of Language Studies, Associate Prof. Ven. Lenagala Siriniwasa Thero

Departments:
 * Department of Pali
 * Department of Sinhala
 * Department of Sanskrit
 * Department of English
 * Department of Language Skills Development
 * Department of English Language Teaching

Admissions

 * Bachelor of Arts General Degree (Internal)
 * Bachelor of Arts Special Degree

Postgraduate and External examination Unit
Courses
 * PHD
 * M.Phil
 * M.A
 * P.G.D
 * B.A.

Diploma
 * Diploma in Buddhism/Pali/Sanskrit
 * Diploma in Sanskrith
 * Diploma in JAPANESE/KOREAN/FRENCH/CHINESE/HINDI/TAMIL/ENGLISH
 * Diploma in Buddhist Counseling

Affiliated Institutions

 * Singapore
 * Malaysia
 * South Korea
 * Germany
 * Austria
 * Scotland
 * England
 * Buddhist & Pali Research Trust [R] (India )
 * The Buddhist & Pali College (U.S.A)

Student life
Near 3000 students attend and others follow external degree programs conducted by the university.

Research & Publications

 * https://web.archive.org/web/20151109155345/http://www.bpu.ac.lk/publications/research

External links and reference

 * Annual Report 2002