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Theravada Buddhism is the largest and official religion of Sri Lanka, practiced by 70.2% of the population as of 2012. [2] Practitioners of Sri Lankan Buddhism can be found amongst the majority Sinhalese population as well as among the minority ethnic groups.
In modern times, Muslims in Sri Lanka have the Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department, which was established in the 1980s to prevent the continual isolation of the Muslim community from the rest of Sri Lanka. Today, about 9.7% of Sri Lankans adhere to Islam; [2] mostly from the Moor and Malay ethnic communities on the island.
Freedom of religion in Sri Lanka is a protected right under Chapter II, Article 9 of the constitution of Sri Lanka. This applies to all religions, though Buddhism is given the foremost place under the 1978 Republican Constitution. Sri Lanka is regarded by its Supreme Court as being a secular state. [1] [2]
Sri Lanka Freedom Party: 25 November 2005 23 April 2010 Mahinda Rajapaksa. D. M. Jayaratne: Sri Lanka Freedom Party: 23 April 2010 9 January 2015 Karu Jayasuriya: United National Party: 12 January 2015 17 August 2015 Maithripala Sirisena: Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe: United National Party: 4 September 2015 23 August 2017 Gamini Jayawickrama Perera ...
Built during the lifetime of Buddha, it is the first ever stupa to be constructed in Sri Lanka. The temple enshrines a lock of hair given by Buddha to Saman, a local chieftain and later a Buddhist deity, during his first visit to the island, 9 months after attaining enlightenment. [15] 6th century BC [16] Mahiyangana, Uva: Nagadeepa Purana ...
Polonnaruwa Vatadage Sri Lanka Ceylon Tea. The culture of Sri Lanka mixes modern elements with traditional aspects and is known for its regional diversity. Sri Lankan culture has long been influenced by the heritage of Theravada Buddhism passed on from India, and the religion's legacy is particularly strong in Sri Lanka's southern and central regions.
This is a list of Buddhist temples, monasteries, stupas, and pagodas in Sri Lanka for which there are Wikipedia articles, sorted by location. Central Province [ edit ]
Their descendants, now the Sri Lankan Malays, adopted several Sri Lankan Moor Islamic traditions while also contributing their unique cultural Islamic practices to other Muslim groups on the Island. The arrival of Muslims from India during the 19th and 20th centuries has also contributed to the growth of Islam in Sri Lanka.