Colombo is a natural setting for the study of Buddhist philosophy. Sri Lanka has a long Buddhist scholarly tradition, and the capital is home to universities, temple libraries, and research institutes. Students there can work with classical Pali sources alongside modern philosophical writing.
The Department of Buddhist Studies at the University of Colombo offers postgraduate programmes including a Postgraduate Diploma, Master of Arts, Master of Philosophy, and Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhist Studies. According to the department, the courses run in English and Sinhala and draw on the permanent academic staff as well as visiting lecturers.
Buddhist philosophy covers a wide range of topics, including ethics, metaphysics, logic, and the nature of consciousness. The Pali canon is the main source text, and study also covers later commentaries and comparative philosophy. Students of the subject often compare Buddhist thought with Western schools, a link reflected in work on ancient philosophy in Athens.
Those interested in neighbouring traditions can look at Buddhist studies in Bhutan and Buddhist meditation studies in Myanmar, which cover other Asian centres of Buddhist learning. A broader view of the country’s university sector is available in the Sri Lankan higher learning guide.

