Sri Lanka, is well known for its rich cultural heritage, emerald landscape and its multi-religious / multi ethnic harmonious way of life.

Religious conviction in Sri Lanka is an integral basis of social management, politics, as well as spiritual guidance. The main religions adopted by Sri Lankans are Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.

When traveling around the isle visitors will be amazed by the impressive number of temples, kovils, churches and mosques, each with its own distinctive architecture and also in close proximity to each other (When visiting places of worship it is essential to conform to specified regulations with regard to dress and conduct so as not to show disrespect).

Buddhism

Ancient records in Sri Lanka have professed the remarkable impact of Buddhism and how it gave birth to a cultural revolution more than 2000 years ago. In the wake of this Cultural Revolution, Buddhism also fashioned lifestyles, fostered arts and inspired the building of dagabas, temples, monasteries, statues, impressive man-made reservoirs and irrigation systems which even today are a hallmark to engineering excellence.

The consciousness of a Buddhist identity amongst the Sinhalese was so strong that they asserted that the country belonged to the Buddha, and that the Sinhalese people were designated as the 'protectors of Buddhism' according to The Mahavamsa or The Great Chronicle. Any king who laid claim to the throne must be of Buddhist birth, and was responsible for supporting religious institutions as well as constructing and restoring monasteries.

Almost 25 centuries later, Buddhism is still preserved in its purest form. Its doctrine of peace and tolerance has left a gentle mark on the land and her people.

Hinduism

Hinduism is the second most eminent religious faith practiced. Mainly followed by Tamils, whose origins can be traced back to the sixth century AD when a South Indian king conquered the island and invited a large number of immigrants from South India to occupy northern Sri Lanka - these settlers in turn brought with them Hinduism and initiated the construction of kovils and shrines.

Primordial documentation also revealed that Ceylonese kings Vijayabahu I and Parakramabahu I brought down Indian soldiers for wars and even built Shiva Devalas (Shrines) for them. Shiva Devala in Polonnaruwa built in 11th Century AD is one such example.

Tamils are the second largest group in Sri Lanka after the Sinhalese, making up 18% of the population.

Islam

During the 15th century, Arab merchants commanded trade routes in the Indian Ocean. Many of these traders upon realizing the country's abundant natural and mineral wealth colonized Sri Lanka - thus inculcating Islamic rituals and cultural attributes.

Though these Middle Eastern sailors preserved basic doctrines and Islamic laws, they also incorporated several South Asian social customs, particularly language. Instead of speaking Arabic, they adopted Tamil as their spoken language. Probably, Tamil was the preferred language used in trade along the southern coast of India and northern coast of Sri Lanka during that time. The Sinhalese kings, who were not very trade-cognizant, generally employed Muslims ministers to manage the state's commercial affairs.

The Muslim community is sub-divided into three groups who have different roots and relations to the country: the Sri Lankan Moors, the Indian Moors, and the Malays.

Christianity

The origins of Christianity can be traced to the first colonization on the island by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Since Portuguese women coming to the island at that time were very few, the Portuguese enhanced their populace in the new land by inter-marriage with native women.

Under the Portuguese and British governance, Roman Catholicism was spread throughout the island mainly by the establishment of schools and the use of Christian missionaries. The arrival of St Francis Xavier, the Apostle of the east, saw large numbers being converted to Catholicism, mainly Tamils in the north.

When the Dutch conquered the island, Protestantism along with the Dutch Reformed Church were introduced.