China’s influence on Buddhist values in Sri Lanka is seen as a strategic move to integrate the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda into the country’s spiritual and political realms. This influence, disguised as cultural diplomacy, is actually a form of ideological infiltration, risking the erosion of Sri Lanka’s longstanding Buddhist heritage. Scholars highlight China’s use of Buddhism as a soft-power tool to advance its political objectives in Sri Lanka.
Recognizing religion as a diplomatic tool, China has focused on leveraging Buddhism in Sri Lanka to foster closer ties. By sponsoring temple renovations, cultural exchanges, and pilgrimages, China aims to position itself as a protector of Buddhist heritage in the country. However, beneath these gestures lies a calculated effort to align Sri Lanka’s Buddhist institutions with the Chinese Communist Party’s worldview.
Sri Lanka’s economic vulnerabilities have made it susceptible to Chinese influence, particularly through projects like the Belt and Road Initiative. Despite promises of prosperity, these initiatives have led to a cycle of debt dependency for Sri Lanka. The country’s digital economy plans have also become intertwined with Chinese investments, further solidifying China’s ideological influence within Sri Lanka’s governance structures.
The intertwining of economic cooperation with CCP narratives and the reshaping of spiritual narratives to align with China’s authoritarian worldview pose a significant risk to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and cultural identity. If left unchecked, Chinese ideological infiltration could compromise Sri Lanka’s Buddhist institutions, turning them into tools for foreign propaganda rather than preservers of traditional wisdom.
