Message from the Head of the Department
The vision of the Department of Buddhist Studies is to evolve an excellent center for advanced leaning of Buddhism, as a broad field of study encompassing all the three main traditions of Buddhism, Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna, and also, while giving priority to the study of Pāli language and literature, promote the study of such other Buddhist source languages as Sanskrit, Buddhist Sanskrit, Tibetan, Classical Chinese and some key forms of Prakrit such as Ardha-Magathi and Ashokan Prakrit.
The Department offers undergraduate programs on Buddhist studies covering Buddhist textual studies, Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist history and culture along with Buddhist source languages such as Pali and Sanskrit. In addition, the department offers a two-year Masters course in Buddhist studies in Both English and Sinhala mediums. The Department offers research studies leading to MPhil and PhD in Buddhist Studies to both local and foreign students. The Department has a substantial reference library of its own comprising primary and secondary sources for Buddhist studies.
The occupying of the reputed lecturers and their tremendous academic services not only for widening students’ horizons regarding the subject but also to develop and strengthen students’ personality.
The guiding principle of the Department is to view its main focus, Buddhism, a system of thought, not solely as an academic subject to be studied like any other subject but, in addition, to highlight its contemporary social significance, its validity and relevance as a practical philosophy capable of providing guidance to solve complex social problems found in the world today.
Let us thank you for your interest in Buddhist Studies, and we wish to welcome you cordially to the Department of Buddhist Studies!
Ven. Dr. Madihe Sugathasiri Thera, PhD.
Act. Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies