The Buddhist studies at Colombo has a long history. It was taught there earlier from 1965 to 1970 before, it was discontinued due to university reforms. University of Colombo has been teaching BS for the last twenty years since 1997.
Professor Y. Karunadasa was the first professor of the Unit on the contract basis for a two year period. It was the very strong conviction of the late Prof. M.B. Ariyapala (Emeritus Professor of Sinhala, University of Colombo) and others who initiated the BS program at its present phase that the University must be a centre of excellence for BS.