Has Ministry of Buddhist Affairs Been Abolished By The NPP Government?

A viral post on social media claims that the current NPP government is allegedly planning to abolish the functions of the Ministry of Buddhist Religious Affairs. Users sharing the claim on TikTok are basing it on a clip of Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, talking about his ministry in a TV show. The video has a Sinhala text superimposed on it, which reads, “NPP Minister Sunil says there is no Ministry of Buddhist Affairs in the country now. The one that existed was abolished.”

This claim has been widely shared on TikTok and Facebook. These posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

Sri Lanka is a multi-religious island nation, with a majority of Buddhists. Buddhism was introduced to the country around the 3rd century BC and has a strong historical and cultural influence on Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Constitution, specifically Article 9, gives Buddhism the “foremost place” and mandates the state to protect and foster the Buddhasasana, while also ensuring freedom of religion for all. It is in this context that the claims are being shared.

Fact Check/ Verification

We began by verifying whether any mainstream media outlets have reported on such a statement by MP Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, but found nothing relevant.

Through a reverse image search using key frames from the viral video, we traced a longer version of the interview of the Minister on Rathu Ira segment telecast on Swarnavahini Channel on July 17, 2025.

In the interview, Sunil Senevi points out that according to the new government policy, the number of ministries has been reduced to twenty-one. Accordingly, the Department of Buddhist Affairs exists instead of the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs, under the Ministry of Buddhist Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Through keyword research, we found news videos showing Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa also clarifying that the viral claim is not true. 

Under the current government policy, twenty-six institutions, including the Department of Buddhist Affairs, the Central Cultural Fund, the Buddhasasana Fund, the Buddhist Renaissance Fund, and the Department of Archaeology, have been gazetted under one ministry. News reports on the same can be seen here, here and here.

Venerable Mugunuwela Anuruddha Thero, Secretary General of the All-Ceylon Buddhist Advisory Council, also clarified that the media had misrepresented the statement made by Dr Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, and that the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs still exists under “Religious and Cultural Affairs.”

Conclusion

The claim that the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs has been abolished is misleading. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Sunil stated that, under the NPP government’s policy to streamline ministries, the functions of the Ministry continue under the broader Ministry of Buddhist Religious and Cultural Affairs, with the Department of Buddhist Affairs still active.

Our Sources
YouTube video of Rathu Ira segment aired on Swarnavahini, July 17, 2025.
Nalinda Jayatissa’s statement published on Neth FM Facebook page on July 22, 2025.
Nalinda Jayatissa’s statement published on NewsCenter.lk Facebook page on July 22, 2025.
Nalinda Jayatissa’s statement published on NewsCenter.lk YouTube channel on July 22, 2025.
Venerable Mugunuwela Anuruddha Thero’s statement published on News.lk Facebook page on July 22, 2025.