Sri Lanka participated and made a significant contribution at the International Buddhist Forum held in Tuva, Russian Federation, from 18 to 21 August 2026. The delegation was headed by Minister of Culture of Sri Lanka, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, together with senior officials of the Ministry of Culture and the Buddhist clergy.
Minister Senevi, addressing both the Opening Ceremony and the Plenary Session, highlighted Sri Lanka’s historic role in preserving, practising and disseminating Buddhism and its position as one of the foremost custodians of the Theravada Buddhist tradition.
The delegation comprising Commissioner General of the Department of Buddhist Affairs, Gamini Senerathne; Senior Lecturer at the Pali and Buddhist University, Saman Peramuna; Editor-in-Chief of the National Encyclopedia, Dr. Ranjana Senasinghe; and Counsellor of the Embassy, Mihiravi Dissanayake, also participated in a series of panel discussions addressing diverse dimensions of Buddhism and its contemporary relevance. Discussions covered Buddhism and ecology, Buddhist tourism, the translation of Buddhist texts to promote Buddhist teachings and doctrine, and the architectural heritage and distinctive features of Buddhist temples. The Forum provided an important platform to strengthen Sri Lanka’s engagement with the Russian Buddhist community and other international Buddhist institutions, while opening avenues for cooperation in culture, Buddhist studies, religious heritage, translation, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
The Buddhist clergy included Deputy Head of the Pepiliyana Sunethradevi Pirivena, Ven. Rajangane Piyadassi Thero; Abbot of Chittaviveka Buddhist Monastery, Ven. Rakwane Gnanaseeha Thero; and clergy from the Jetavana Buddhist Monastery. They participated in discussions on Buddhism and consciousness, traditional Buddhist medicine, and Buddhism and State relations in Sri Lanka, enabling Sri Lanka to share its perspectives and strengthen international dialogue and understanding. Short meditation sessions and Dhamma discourses were also conducted.
The Forum was an important platform to showcase Sri Lanka’s rich Buddhist heritage and its continuing contribution to Buddhist scholarship, religious practice, cultural preservation and international Buddhist cooperation. Sri Lanka’s experience in preserving its ancient Buddhist traditions and heritage, including its vast corpus of Buddhist literature and architectural legacy, generated considerable interest among participants and reinforced Sri Lanka’s standing as a key custodian and living centre of Theravada Buddhism.
The International Buddhist Forum, held under the patronage of President Vladimir Putin, is a flagship annual gathering rotated among Russia’s three traditionally Buddhist regions – Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva – bringing together representatives of Buddhism from around the world. More than 600 delegates from Russia, Mongolia, China, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Cambodia, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Japan, Cameroon and other countries attended, including religious leaders, diplomats, business representatives, scholars and researchers.
On the sidelines of the Forum, Minister Senevi held a bilateral meeting with Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tuva, Viktor Chikzhit, where the two sides discussed avenues for strengthening cultural and religious ties between Sri Lanka and Tuva, including possible exchanges between monastic and academic institutions.
Minister Senevi also gave interviews to TASS and Russia-24, in which he spoke about the role of Buddhism in preserving Sri Lanka’s cultural identity and his proposal for a “New Literary Cultural Triangle” framework, an initiative for broader Eurasian cultural cooperation.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation looks forward to continued collaboration in future editions of this important platform for Buddhist dialogue and to facilitating Sri Lanka’s active participation in next year’s Forum.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Moscow
30 August 2026
