About Us

The Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies (PGIPBS) of the University of Kelaniya was earlier known as the Vidyalankara Institute of Buddhist Studies when it functioned, since its inception on 23rd November 1975 until 30th Decembers 1979 , as an Institute of the Vidyalankara Campus of the University of Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ). Originally located within the main campus of the University of Kelaniya , the Institute has been relocated to be near the city of Colombo , for the convenience for both the teachers as well as the students. Presently, it is situated at 133/19 Nawala Road , Colombo 5.

Its present name, status and structure are all derived from the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies Ordinance No.8 of 1977, which came into operation on 1st January 1980 . In accordance with this Ordinance the Institute functions as an organization within the University of Kelaniya , under the direction and control of a Board of Management (executive authority) constituted to represent both academic and administrative personnel. All matters relating to curriculum development, courses of study, teaching and research and the conduct of examinations are exercised by a Faculty Board (academic authority) subject to the approval of the Board of Management and the University Senate.

The Institute has three Departments of Study representing Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhist Culture and Buddhist Literary Sources. Pali Studies come under the department of Buddhist Literary Sources. Currently Professors Asanga Tilakaratne and Ven. K. Dhammajoti serve as heads of departments of Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist Literary Sources respectively After Professors Kapila Abhayawansa's retirement the headship of the department of Buddhist cultures remains open Professors T. Endo heads Pali Studies. The Head of each Department gives general direction to studies and research in each area of study. The three departments, together with the Director, the Registrar and the Bursar, meet monthly to decide on, and recommend to the Academic and Management Boards, appropriate courses of action to be pursued. Teaching and supervision of research are handled by a panel of teachers and academic supervisors drawn mainly from the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Universities in Sri Lanka . In some cases, where feasible, foreign scholars are also invited to be joint supervisors and thesis examiners. Course work and research can be pursued either in Sinhala or in English and the Institute welcomes both local and foreign students.

PGIPBS is the only postgraduate institute wholly dedicated to Buddhist studies in Sri Lanka . Since its humble beginning in 1975 with just a handful of local and foreign students, it has throughout the years grown to be a reputed center of excellence for Buddhist studies and research. It has by far the largest number of students - both local and foreign - registered for postgraduate Buddhist studies in the country. Thus, in 2003 it had 194 local and 57 foreign students; and in 2004 there were 169 local and 65 foreign students. With the PGIPBS being increasing established internationally over the years, the number of foreign students is expected to increase accordingly.

The financial reports of PGIPBS in the past several years consistently reveal the noteworthy fact that income derived from tuition fees charged on foreign students amount to more than a third of the total expenditure of the Institute.

PGIPBS is also the only place in Sri Lanka - and for that matter one of the very few places in the world - where students can undertake guided comparative studies of the northern and southern Buddhist sources involving all the canonical languages with the exception of Tibetan.