Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs

The Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs (; ) is a cabinet ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka. It is responsible for oversight of the country's de facto state religion, Theravada Buddhism by: General oversight and maintenance of the welfare of the nation's Buddhist clergy and places of worship Oversight of Buddhist education in the country, including provision of information technology to temples The development of temples as community centres with multiple services outside of matters spiritual Maintenance of selected places of Buddhist worship as tourist sites, and maintenance of sites of Buddhist pilgrimage The propagation of Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy Maintaining the nature of the Buddhist state via necessary legislation

List of ministers Parties

Name Portrait Party Took office Left officePresident W. J. M. Lokubandara United National Party 12 December 2001 9 April 2004 Chandrika Kumaratunga Mahinda Rajapaksa 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 2015Maithripala Sirisena Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe United National Party 4 September 2015 23 August 2017 Gamini Jayawickrama Perera United National Party 25 August 2017 26 October 2018 Udaya Gammanpila Pivithuru Hela Urumaya 9 November 2018 15 December 2018 Gamini Jayawickrama Perera United National Party 28 December 2018 21 November 2019 Mahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 22 November 2019 9 May 2022Gotabaya Rajapaksa Vidura Wickremanayake Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 20 May 2022 14 July 202222 July 202224 September 2024Ranil WickremesingheVijitha HerathNational People's Power24 September 202418 November 2024Anura Kumara DissanayakeHiniduma Sunil Senevi18 November 2024Incumbent

See also Buddhism in Sri Lanka Religion in Sri Lanka

References

External links Government of Sri Lanka