Buddhism in Sri Lanka has a long history stretching back to the times of King Asoka. This history, however, has not always been peaceful. The rule of Sri Lanka by the Europeans from the 16th century brought with it not only the proselytizing of Christianity but also the suppression of Buddhism. The period of colonization under England in particular saw Buddhism driven almost to the verge of extinction. At that time Buddhist monks and two Christian pastors were involved in intense doctrinal debates. The Buddhists were seen as victorious, and this became the turning point for the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Colonel Olcott, who went on to make great contributions to the revival of Buddhism, became a supporter of Buddhism as a result of these debates. The Buddhist revival movement also influenced the revival and modernization of Buddhism around the world, including India and Japan. Thus these debates, that took place out in the countryside in 19th century Sri Lanka, played an important role in the modern history of Buddhism. However, these debates have received almost no scholarly attention. In this article I would like to discuss the significance of this forgotten and overlooked chapter in the history of modern Buddhism.
