Brief on India - Sri Lanka Cultural Relations

Cultural relations:

India and Sri Lanka have a shared legacy of historical, cultural, religious, spiritual and linguistic ties that is more than 2,500 years old. In contemporary times, the Cultural Cooperation Agreement signed by the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka on 29 November, 1977 at New Delhi forms the basis for periodic Cultural Exchange Programmes between the two countries.

People-to-People Exchanges

India and Sri Lanka share a civilizational relationship founded on deep historical, cultural, religious, spiritual and linguistic links. Buddhism remains one of the strongest pillars of this enduring partnership, tracing its origins to the 3rd century BCE when Emperor Ashoka sent Arhat Mahinda and Theri Sanghamitta to Sri Lanka at the request of King Devanampiya Tissa, laying the foundation for the spread of Buddhism on the island.

The shared Buddhist heritage continues to play a central role in strengthening bilateral relations. In September 2020, during the India–Sri Lanka Virtual Bilateral Summit, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced a dedicated grant assistance of USD 15 million for the protection and promotion of Buddhist ties between the two countries. The grant supports projects including the renovation and construction of Buddhist monasteries, preservation of Buddhist heritage, education of young monks, archaeological cooperation, scholarly exchanges, development of Buddhist museums, and reciprocal expositions of the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha.

Under this initiative, the Government of India is implementing several projects in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka. One of the flagship projects is the provision of free solar electricity to nearly 10,000 Buddhist temples and pirivenas across Sri Lanka. In addition, under an Indian Line of Credit of USD 17 million, rooftop solar photovoltaic systems have been installed at over 5,000 temples, pirivenas and other religious institutions across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. A further USD 5 million remains available under the grant for future initiatives identified by the Government of Sri Lanka.

During his State Visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's assistance for the development of the Anuradhapura Sacred City Complex, reaffirming India's commitment to preserving one of Buddhism's most revered heritage sites.

India and Sri Lanka have also strengthened their spiritual ties through the reciprocal exposition of the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha. The sacred relics from Kapilavastu were exhibited in Sri Lanka in 1978, attracting nearly 10 million devotees, and again in 2012 to commemorate the 2600th anniversary of the Enlightenment of the Buddha. In 2018, for the first time, the revered relics from Sarnath were brought to Sri Lanka for public exposition during Vesak celebrations. Most recently, in February 2026, the Sacred Relics from Devnimori, Gujarat, were exhibited at Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo, drawing over one million devotees. These expositions have significantly strengthened the spiritual and cultural bonds between the two countries.

India has also undertaken several initiatives to promote Buddhist heritage and scholarship in Sri Lanka. These include the establishment of the Indian Gallery at the International Buddhist Museum in Kandy, organization of mobile exhibitions on the life of Lord Buddha and the Buddhist Sacred Sites in India at temples across Sri Lanka on Poya Days, and distribution of Sinhala translations of the Jataka Tales to Dhamma schools across the country.

People-to-people exchanges continue to reinforce these longstanding ties. India regularly facilitates pilgrimages by Sri Lankan devotees to the Buddhist Circuit in India. In October 2021, the inaugural Colombo–Kushinagar flight was launched on Vap Poya Day, symbolically reviving an ancient pilgrimage route. The Government of India had earlier declared Kushinagar Airport an international airport to facilitate easier access for Buddhist pilgrims from around the world.

India has also organized several special pilgrimage programmes, including visits to Bodh Gaya for Sri Lankan Armed Forces personnel and their families, while delegations of Buddhist monks and devotees from both countries continue to participate in reciprocal visits, further strengthening people-to-people connections.

Recognizing the importance of preserving the Buddhist literary tradition, the Government of India accorded Classical Language status to Pali in 2024. The decision was widely welcomed by Sri Lankan scholars as a significant step towards preserving and promoting the language of the Buddha's teachings. Building upon this recognition, the High Commission of India in Colombo has undertaken several initiatives to promote Pali studies, including organizing academic discussions on "Pali as a Classical Language", reprinting important Pali grammar texts such as Namamala and Balawatharo, and supporting scholarly collaboration between the two countries.

Initiatives promoting public participation and engagement have also been undertaken to highlight India's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and strengthen people-to-people connections. Most recently, the Viksit Bharat Run 2025, organized as part of the global Viksit Bharat Run initiative, brought together the Indian diaspora, Sri Lankan citizens and friends of India in Colombo through a 5 km community run promoting fitness, service, sustainability and civic participation.

Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC)

The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India in Colombo, has been at the forefront of strengthening cultural relations and people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka since its establishment in 1998. Through a vibrant calendar of cultural, educational and academic activities, SVCC serves as an important platform for promoting India's rich artistic, literary, spiritual and intellectual traditions while fostering greater mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

SVCC conducts a wide range of programmes throughout the year, including classical and contemporary music and dance performances, art exhibitions, literary festivals, seminars, workshops, lectures, film screenings and cultural celebrations. These initiatives bring together artists, scholars, students, writers, spiritual leaders and cultural practitioners from both India and Sri Lanka, further strengthening the centuries-old civilizational links between the two countries.

As a centre for cultural learning, SVCC offers regular classes in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Carnatic Vocal Music, Hindustani Vocal Music, Violin, Sitar, Tabla, Hindi and Yoga, attracting hundreds of students annually. The Centre also works closely with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and other educational institutions in India to facilitate scholarships for Sri Lankan students pursuing higher studies in music, dance, fine arts, Hindi and related disciplines.

A diverse range of music concerts and cultural performances are organized throughout the year, showcasing the richness and diversity of Indian music while fostering greater cultural appreciation between India and Sri Lanka. Major programmes have included “Timeless Bollywood Melodies – Anuradha Paudwal Live in Colombo,” organized to commemorate the 77th Republic Day of India; “PAPON Live – A Celebratory Evening of Music and Harmony”; and “Bollywood & Beyond,” featuring globally acclaimed violin maestro Dr. L. Subramaniam and renowned playback singer Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam, celebrating the timeless appeal of Indian cinema and music.

India's classical performing arts are promoted through annual festivals, recitals, workshops and lecture demonstrations featuring eminent artistes from India and Sri Lanka. The Sri Tyagaraja Aradhana (Tyagaraja Utsav) has become one of Sri Lanka's premier Carnatic music festivals, while regular performances in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi and other classical art forms continue to strengthen artistic exchanges between the two countries.

Exhibitions, cultural festivals and heritage programmes are organized to showcase India's rich artistic traditions and the shared civilizational heritage of India and Sri Lanka. Notable initiatives include Bharat Sri Lanka Maitri Week 2024, featuring cultural performances, handicrafts exhibitions, food festivals and youth engagement programmes, and Chitralekha – The First India Alumni Art Exhibition, highlighting the creative works of Sri Lankan artists trained in India under ICCR scholarships and cultural exchange programmes.

Indian film festivals and special screenings are organized to introduce Sri Lankan audiences to the diversity of Indian cinema across multiple languages and genres. These programmes provide a platform for cultural exchange while fostering greater appreciation of India's cinematic heritage and encouraging interactions between filmmakers, artistes and audiences from both countries.

Publications and literary initiatives are undertaken to promote the shared historical, cultural and civilizational heritage of India and Sri Lanka. Recent publications include Civilisational Twins: Timeless Traditions, Eternal Bonds between India and Sri Lanka and Ramayana in Sri Lanka. Efforts have also been made to promote Buddhist and Pali scholarship through the reprinting of classical Pali texts and the organization of academic discussions and literary programmes.

The International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually across Sri Lanka in collaboration with government institutions, universities, schools, the armed forces, Ayurveda hospitals, yoga organizations and community groups. Extensive outreach programmes, workshops and public yoga sessions are conducted throughout the country, promoting the message of health, wellness and holistic living. Most recently, the 12th International Day of Yoga (2026), celebrated under the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” witnessed the participation of over 2,000 yoga practitioners, alongside numerous curtain-raiser events organized nationwide.

Initiatives are undertaken to commemorate significant milestones and anniversaries of India's cultural, historical and national importance, while highlighting the shared values and connections between India and Sri Lanka. Major commemorative programmes have included the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, featuring cultural and academic programmes, musical performances, exhibitions, publications and tributes celebrating his enduring legacy of peace and non-violence. The Birth Centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was commemorated through a special musical evening celebrating his invaluable contribution to Indian music and the release of Sinhala and Tamil versions of his iconic composition Manuhe Manuhor Babe (Humans for Humanity). Currently, the 150th Anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’ is being commemorated, celebrating the iconic patriotic composition and its enduring significance in India's cultural heritage.

Today, SVCC continues to serve as a vibrant centre of cultural diplomacy, playing a pivotal role in deepening the enduring friendship between India and Sri Lanka through cultural exchange, education, scholarship, yoga and the promotion of shared civilizational values.

India-Sri Lanka Foundation

The India-Sri Lanka Foundation, set up in December 1998 as an intergovernmental initiative, also aims towards enhancement of scientific, technical, educational and cultural cooperation through civil society exchanges and enhancing contact between the younger generations of the two countries.

 July 2026