Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk - Buddhism in Sri Lanka is primarily of the Theravada school, and constitutes the religious faith of about 70% of the population. According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 2nd century BCE by <PERSON>, the son of the <PERSON>, during the reign of Sri Lanka's <PERSON>. During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries were established under the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan king.