The Buddhist & Pali University (BPU) of Sri Lanka was founded by an act of Parliament (No. 74) in 1981 and ceremonially inaugurated on April 22^nd 1982. It was formed with intention of propagating the Buddha Dhamma and to promote Buddhist and Pali studies in Sri Lanka and world–wide and to provide facilities for research in Buddhism, Pali and related fields. The BPU act was amended (No. 37 of 1995). This amendment restructured the BPU along the lines of the University of Sri Lanka—affiliated colleges in Sri Lanka ceased to exist. The BPU also found itself at a new location in a suburb of Colombo—Pitipana, Homagama—with hostel facilities and the premier Buddhist library in Sri Lanka.  Additional provision was made by the amendment of 1995 to register external institutions to prepare students outside Sri Lanka for examinations and courses of study offered by the BPU—making the BPU a fully-fledged and accredited international university. Subsequently the Buddhist & Pali College at Mangala Vihara in Singapore and the Dongguk Buddhist Institute of Korea were registered as affiliated Colleges. Affiliated colleges in Malaysia and Cambodia have also been registered since then. The Buddhist & Pali College of the U.S.A is the latest addition to this growing international presence of the BPU. The university publishes the ‘Sri Lanka journal of Buddhist Studies’ annually. It is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. 

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. -Buddha