Sri Lankan culture is a rich blend of the interaction of diverse cultural patterns both indigenous and derived from, trade, religions, as well as, western colonization. The cultural patterns of Sri Lanka today show the lasting impact of a diverse range of cultures. The overall culture is largely the result of the impact of the introduction of Buddhism, more than 2,300 years ago. This does not erase the heavy influence of Hinduism, together with the lesser impact of Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity, in addition to the pre-Buddhist worship of deities and animism, some of which still remain in the traditions and rituals of the country.

At a time when other societies in the world were boasting of their martial prowess, Sri Lankan society had embraced a religious philosophy based on the rational, where tolerance played a most significant part. Buddhism as it developed in Sri Lanka was not an exclusive state religion, but was rich in its philosophical content to let other breezes too flow into the country. The close proximity to South India saw the impact of Hinduism in the country grows, but not diminishing the overall acceptance of Buddhism.

Traders from the Arab world, from pre-Mohammedan times, saw the influence of Persians, with their own Zoroastrianism and even Nestorian Christianity in the very early centuries of the Christian era. Later trade with the countries of the Arab world and South India, after the rise of Islam, saw the weaving of Islam too into the cultural fabric of the country. It was very much later, from the early 16th century, that Sri Lanka came under the strong influence of the Christians, who came in search of its much valued spices, peacocks, gems and elephants and stayed over to rule over a part of and finally the entire country.

 

The advent of Buddhism saw the emergence of an entire civilization that reached a very high degree of development, especially in construction and architecture and the science of hydraulics. The rulers gave their patronage to the construction of great Buddhist "dagabas" or relic chambers for the spiritual upliftment of the people and gave considerable importance to the Buddhist clergy. They also gave similar importance to the temporal needs of the people, and commissioned the construction of great irrigation works that survive to this day.

The ancient and medieval periods of the country, under the influence of Buddhism and Hinduism also saw a great flowering of the arts, especially architecture, sculpture and painting. The temples, palaces and pleasure gardens of the ancient Anuradhapura period (3 BC - 9 AC) and the later Polonnaruwa period (10 - 13 AC) have some of the finest temple and decorative architecture and sculpture in the South Asian region. Polonnaruwa also has some excellent Hindu sculpture showing the co-existence of the Buddhist and Hindu traditions in the country.