Theravada Buddhism
About 70% of Sri Lankans are Theravada Buddhists — the oldest surviving form of Buddhism. Sri Lanka sees itself as the guardian of "pure" Buddhism, as taught by the historical Buddha Siddhartha Gautama.
Buddhism permeates every aspect of life: Poya days (full moon days) are holidays when alcohol is not sold and shops are partially closed. Temples (Viharas) are found in every village, monks in saffron robes are a common sight, and at six in the morning, temple bells and recitations can be heard everywhere.
Important for Visitors
- Temple visit: Remove shoes, cover shoulders and knees, take off hats. Do not photograph Buddha statues with your back to the camera.
- Buddha statues: Extremely sensitive topic! Buddha tattoos on the skin lead to arrest and deportation. Souvenirs with Buddha images can also be confiscated at customs.
- Monks: Women must not touch monks — even accidentally. On the bus, one stands up for monks.
- Poya days: On full moon days, alcohol is not available (hotels sometimes still serve foreign guests). Attractions can be more crowded than usual.
Achtung
Buddha tattoos on the body can lead to arrest and deportation — Sri Lanka takes the protection of religious symbols very seriously. Posing for photos with your back to the Buddha or standing in front of Buddha statues (as if they were a selfie partner) is considered disrespectful.
