ABSTRACT
Buddhism is rightly thought to preach a message of peace. Tranquility and insight are what make up the blessed state of nirvana in this life. The first point to consider is how Buddhism relates to traditional Sinhala culture. In modern times, the division between Sinhalese and Tamils has been a religious one, save insofar as members of both groups have converted to forms of Christianity. The intimacy between national identity and faith has been underlined and intensified in modern times because of nationalism. But the notion that the Teaching was specially entrusted to the Sri Lankans and more particularly to the Sinhalese is found in the great chronicle, the Mahavamsa. The fact is that Buddhism in Sri Lanka, as it was modernizing through the thought and work of figures such as Olcott, Ana-garika Dharmapala, Malalasekara, and K. N. Jayatilleke, failed to provide a positive theory of other religions.
