About Us

Ministry of Buddhasasana

By
the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
Buddhism in this country has been given the foremost place and whilst
providing   necessary provision   to protect and foster Buddhasasana ,
protection of the rights of all religions has also been emphasized.   In
accordance with this concept in page twenty five of the manifesto for a
Maithree governance and a stable country, it has been stated “The
freedom of People of all religions to follow their religious beliefs
should be assured”.

In
order to achieve this objective, it has become the responsibility of
the Ministry of Buddhasasana to implement suitable projects and to
launch programmes which would be helpful for the development of social
values in a manner which would cover the entire Sri Lankan society.
Accordingly, among the Ministries in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of
Buddhasasana spontaneously

Becomes a unique government institution.

The
necessity for the building up of a country with citizens who are
spiritually developed, is felt very strongly in the present era and that
is why His Excellency the President is ceaselessly emphasizing the fact
that what has to be done for the creation of a just society should be
done without delay. The Ministry of Buddhasasana is engaged in a
continuous mission to provide religious leadership to the people in
order to propagate concepts which would promote unity and reconciliation
among the ethnic groups.  

Accordingly,
the Ministry of Buddhasasana, in collaboration with the Department of
Buddhist Affairs which is under it, is performing an immense service to
achieve these objectives.

Main performance indicators of the Ministry of Buddhsasana

• Re-structuring
  the Dhamma education network with a high profile which would develop
  positive concepts whilst providing a new dimension to strength then the
  link between the Buddhist places of worship and the people.  
• Empowering all Buddhist places of worship with information technology and making them centers providing multi services.
• Making Buddhist places of worship net work attractive places which would attract local and foreign tourists.
• Re-structuring Buddhist places of worship to Buddhist centres with 
  
• Systematic physical development for the modern generation whilst conserving the traditions.
• Propagating Buddhism and Buddhist  philosophy
• Creating a virtuous country with a just society.  
•                                                                                                                 
  

Main Divisions of the Ministry and their Functions

The
Ministry of Buddhasasana comprises of 08 main divisions for the
implementation of functions in order to reach the vision of being the
dominant facilitator   for the creation of a virtuous society with
Buddhist ethics.They are,

1. Administration division
2. Development division
3. Accounts division
4. Poojabhoomy Development division
5. Visa division
6. Buddhasasana Fund
7. Ministry Secretariat
8. Deputy Ministers Secretariat

Administration Division

Management
and monitoring of all human resources and physical resources of the
Ministry to achieve the vision and the mission of the Ministry of
Buddhsasana, are being carried out by the Administration Division. This
division which is operative under the Additional Secretary
(Administration and Finance), performs the following functions.

1. All administrative functions of the Ministry.
2. Maintaining the personal files of all employees, including the Staff officers.
3. Administration of vehicles belonging to the Ministry.
4. All maintenance and administrative activities of the Ministry building.
5. Fulfilling the administrative functions and other needs of Ministry staff and Deputy Minister’s staff. 
6. Activities pertaining to the festivals which are being Conducted   the Ministry.
7. Coordination and supervision of administrative activities of the Ministry Of Buddhasasana.
8. Settlement of all official telephone bills of the Ministry.
9. Settlement of assessment and electricity bills of the Ministry building.
10. Functions relating to the cleanliness and security of the Ministry.
11. Submitting of Cabinet Memorandums and taking action with regard to all Acts.
12. Training and development of the staff.

Development Division

The
main objective of the Development division is to plan, monitor,
implement and follow up action for creating a virtuous society with
moral values by investing in programmes in accordance with government
policies and financial provision provided for the revival of Buddhism by
the Government budget. In order to reach these objectives, the
following functions are being performed.

1. Planning,   implementing and monitoring, various development Projects which are being undertaken by the Ministry.
2. Preparation of annual Action Plans.
3. Progress review activities relevant to the Departments affiliated to the to the Ministry.
4. Preparing Cabinet Papers pertaining to the   subject of planning an development of the Ministry and activities relevant to the implementation of their decisions.
5. Directing
   and monitoring   the coordination of official duties relevant to all
   local/foreign construction projects implemented by the Ministry.
6. Printing of books and preparing annual diaries.
7. Coordinating
   and monitoring activities relevant to the subject of development in the
   Ministry and in Departments and Institutions affiliated to the
   Ministry.
8. Coordination
   of activities pertaining to special projects which are being
   implemented under the initiative of the Ministry and outside
   Institutions. 
9. Maintaining the Information Unit of the Ministry, with necessary up-dating.
10. Operating the web site of the Ministry   with necessary up-dating.
11. Coordinating and implementing various progrmmes carried out by the Ministry for religious co-existence.
12. Coordinating the media activities of the Ministry.

Poojabhoomy Development Division

Poojabhomy
development based on religious and social services carried by
respective places of worship, identified as places of worship   with
archeological evidence and historical importance at regional levels,
declared under the Town and Country Planning Act No. 15 of 1946, is
being carried out by this Division.

Accordingly,
the main function is providing financial assistance for the development
of places of worship, taking into consideration their religious
importance, archeological and environmental importance, historical
importance, cultural importance and economic and social factors.

Visa Division

1.
Issue of letters recommending visa for the clergy and laymen who are
coming from foreign countries for religious activities. (Arrival visa
and   recommendations for providing residential visa extensions).

2. Issue of letters recommending visa for Bhikkus residing here and abroad

3.   Registration of organizations, which are organizing pilgrimages to India.

4.   Issuing recommendations for visa for pilgrimages to India.

5. Investigating complaints received regarding pilgrimages to India.                                                                                                                   

Buddhasasana Fund

Buddhasasana
Fund has been established under the provisions of Buddhasasana Act
No.35 of 1990 with the objective of collecting and formulating funds to
protect and foster Buddhasasana. Funds received from whatever sources,
whether local or foreign, are being invested to consolidate the
protection of the Buddhasasana, in a manner considered as most
appropriate. The administration and management of the Fund, has been
vested to the Administrative Board.

Objectives

Vision & Mission

Hon. Deputy Minister’s Message

Buddha’s preaching is a doctrine delivered for the benefit of god and
human communities in both worlds. It is a matter of great pride that
Sri Lanka where the Gauthama Buddha visited thrice and where this
worldly doctrine is well established has become center of Theravada
Dhamma.

At this moment of
completing 2560 years from the Sambuddha Parinirvana, it is truly a
consolation having got the opportunity to be in a timely mission for the
sasana while protecting the Theravada Dhamma. Further, it is a great
privilege to all of us Sri Lankans having been successful in delivering
examples of high social values to the entire world while living in a
Budhhist social and cultural surrounding.

While it is a pleasure of having got the opportunity to address in
this manner the official website of the Ministry of Buddhasasana which
is the Cabinet Ministry that covers a distinguished subject area where
priority have been granted through the constitution which is the prime
law of the country, I wish this web site will be able fulfill a major
and an outstanding role in the activity of carrying out a huge mission
for the sasana and the society while being fruitful in government
aspirations.

H.R. Sarathi Dushmantha, (Attorny-at-Law)
Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana