In 1956, the Vidyodaya Pirivena and Vidyalankara Pirivena were transformed into universities, and later renamed the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the University of Kelaniya. As a result, Buddhist monks at the time advised the government on the necessity of a separate university for monks to preserve the Buddhist order.

In 1980, during the tenure of President J.R. Jayewardene and Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa, the Maha Sangha formulated a plan to establish a Buddhist University and submitted it to the government. The President and Prime Minister invited Venerable Walpola Rahula Thero, renowned for his extensive experience and expertise in Buddhist education and administration, to return to Sri Lanka and oversee its establishment. Upon his arrival in early 1981, he consulted with Sri Lankan monks to align on the university’s vision and foundational principles, laying the groundwork for its establishment. 

The Buddhist and Pali University Act was then drafted and submitted to Parliament, where it was presented by Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa as Act No. 74 of 1981. The university was officially inaugurated on 22 April 1982 as per Gazette Notification No. 177, issued on 15 January 1982. Initially, its headquarters were located at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo. Academic activities were carried out at two institutions: the Vidyodaya Institute and the Vidyalankara Institute. In 1983, the 30th Amendment to the Act introduced two additional campuses: Pinwatta Saddharmakara Campus and Balagalle Sarasavi Campus.

Thirteen years later, Amended Act No. 37 of 1995 unified these campuses into a single institution, and introduced residential facilities for students. On 2 February 1997, academic activities as a unified institution commenced at Gurulugomi Mawatha, Homagama. The university’s mission is to promote Buddhism and Pali studies, conduct examinations for internal and external students, and cultivate monastic values.

The Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Association of Vice-Chancellors and Directors, and the International Association of Theravāda Buddhist Universities. Its degrees are internationally recognized and respected, with branches authorized to grant degrees in various European and East Asian countries. The university welcomes students from all backgrounds to pursue academic programs at every level; from bachelor’s and master’s degrees to doctoral studies.