INFORMATION AND MEDIA DIVISION
The Media and Information Division of the Department of Buddhist Affairs was established on February 14, 2015. The primary functions of this Division are:
Providing media coverage and publicity for the Department’s various programs.
Preparing, compiling, and updating diverse information and statistics owned by the Department. This includes properly processing and disseminating that information to the state and private sectors.
Buddhist Information System
Information Management System (MIS)
The MIS maintains key statistical data, including:
The Nikāya (Fraternity) to which a temple belongs.
The number of resident monks.
The number of Sāmaṇera (Novice) and Upasampadā (Higher Ordained) monks.
The educational qualifications of the monks.
Information on monks categorized by age.
Information on Dasa Sil Ārama (Ten Precept Nun) Convents.
Information on Dasa Sil Mātāwun Wahanselā (Nuns).
Dhamma Schools information.
Information on Dhamma School Teachers.
Information on Dhamma School Students.
Details of Aid provided to temples (from the Central Government / Provincial Council / Other sources).
Departmental Facebook Presence (Facebook / Facebook Page)
This platform is maintained with daily updates to inform the public about the Department’s various programs and special events. The official Facebook group, “බෞද්ධ කටයුතු පිලිබඳ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව” (Department of Buddhist Affairs), has 4,990 members, and the “Department Of Buddhist Affairs” Facebook Page has 3,100 followers.
YouTube Channel Maintenance (You Tube – DBA Media)
This channel is used to broadcast videos of programs organized by the Department and other timely, relevant content to raise public awareness. The “You Tube – DBA Media” channel has 2,189 subscribers.
Media Activities
Providing necessary media publicity for Department programs, supplying information to the media, organizing media conferences, photographing events, providing these photographs to necessary individuals and institutions, archiving the photographs, preparing various reports, and issuing congratulatory messages from the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs.
Daily Newspaper Reports
Reports are obtained from various parties to verify the facts of different reports appearing in the daily newspapers.
Specifically, under the instruction and approval of the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, letters are issued to relevant parties concerning reports and photographs that insult Buddhism, as well as reports related to various allegations, defamation, and Sāsana-related crises concerning temples and monks.
Online Operations
Organizing online meetings (using MS Office – Teams) for various meetings/discussions organized by the Department.
Utilizing online forms (MS Form) to collect various information.
WhatsApp Groups
Messages and information are disseminated via WhatsApp groups for DBA – GOV.lk, DBA.DIS.lk, Nikāya/Pārshvaya Registrar Theras’ groups, and the Sāsanārakshaka Maṇḍalaya (Council for the Protection of the Sasana) Executive Committee.
Messages, requests, and service inquiries received via the email address dba.gov.lk@gmail.com are promptly forwarded to the relevant divisions and updated.
Website
Updating the official website of the Department of Buddhist Affairs: www.dba.gov.lk.
The Relevant Officer
The Department of Buddhist Affairs is the central government institution responsible for safeguarding, promoting, and administering the Theravāda Buddhist tradition in Sri Lanka through the guidance of temples, clergy, and community services.