The establishment of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka (BPU) is a unique function in history in connection with the amelioration of Buddhist dispensation of Sri Lanka. Buddhist and Pali University has been developing gradually with the supervisions of the Vice-chancellors appointed from epoch to epoch. Accordingly, the Department of Religious Studies and Comparative Philosophy also established on June 05, 1997 under farsighted vision of Faculty Board, Senate and Council of BPU as the responsibility timely needed. Another of the founding members was the late Senior Lecturer Ven. Rathnapure Rahula Thero.  

Professor, late Mr. Oliver Abenayake was the forerunner of this academic contribution as a predecessor of the scope of modern Buddhist education. Professor Oliver Abenayake the great was the founder of four Departments related to the Faculty of Buddhist studies. Four Departments including the Department of Religious Studies and Comparative Philosophy were under Prof. Abenayake as the Dean of the Faculty of Buddhist Studies. Proffessor Most Ven. Kamburugamuwe Wajira Nayaka Thero was the VC at that time. Former Vice-chancellor Senior Professor Ven. Gallelle Sumanasiri Nayaka Thero was the first Head of the Department of Religious Studies. Senior Lecturer Samantha Ilangakoon was appointed as the Head of the Department after the Headship of Prof. Sumanasiri Nayaka Thero. Later, Chair Professor Most Ven. Homagama Dhammananda Thero and then Senior Lecturer Ven. Dampahala Rahula Thero were Heads respectively. However, the Department of Religious Studies and Comparative Philosophy-BPU has rendered three Deans and two VCs to the academic field.

The Department at BPU (Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka) is significant due to the fact that, majority of local and foreign students mostly prefers to study subject areas of religions and philosophies. There is a reason for that tendency e.i. the subject of religious studies is one of the most important key ways to the resolution of human conflicts. When the peace, harmony and affluence are taken into consideration, it cannot be acquired with the absence of the understanding of varieties of religious ideologies. Accordingly, the Department related to Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka is a leading light for the consolation of human mind endowed with mental tranquility and suitable balance of the social life.

The board of lecturers endowed with three members is there including the Head of the Department at present. One of them (Lecturer Mr. Charith Priyadarshana) has gone abroad on study leave for postgraduate studies. Apart from that, IT unit also is under the supervision of our Department. Accordingly, the number of Lecturers in the Department including the IT Lecturer (Mrs. Jeewanthi Hettiarachchi) is four.