The constitution of the island nation of around 22 million people states that Buddhism is the state religion, though freedom of religion is protected by law. The charter also states that the ...

A Colombo protest revives a long-running debate over Buddhism’s “foremost place” and minority rights. COLOMBO — Hundreds of Buddhist monks gathered in Sri Lanka’s capital on February 20, pressing the ...

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – A hard-line Buddhist monk from Myanmar known for his anti-Muslim stance said his movement would join hands with a like-minded Sri Lankan group to "protect" Buddhists, whom he ...

Sri Lanka has rarely convicted Buddhist monks, but the leader of the BBS, a right-wing Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist group, was sentenced to nine months in prison in 2025 and four years in 2024 for his ...

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – With a bloody civil war over and a cautious peace at hand, a group of hardline Buddhist monks is rallying Sri Lankans against what they say is a pernicious threat: Muslims. In ...

MULLEGAMA, Sri Lanka-- Religious violence flared anew in the hills of central Sri Lanka on Wednesday despite a state of emergency, with Buddhist mobs sweeping through towns and villages, burning ...

People watch as Buddhist monks arrive at the Kelaniya temple in Kelaniya on June 10, 2025, during the Poson Poya (full moon) ...