Sri Lanka hosted a major symposium on strengthening Pali language studies, bringing together Buddhist clergy, academics, and Indian officials to develop strategies for preserving the classical language and expanding its teaching across educational institutions.

A symposium dedicated to advancing Pali language studies took place in Colombo on July 24, organized by the Pathfinder Foundation in partnership with India's High Commission and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The event assembled prominent Buddhist monks, scholars, policymakers, and education specialists to chart a course for preserving one of South Asia's most significant classical languages.

Senior Professor Ven. Medagampitiye Vijithadhamma Thera, delivering the keynote address, characterized Pali as a comprehensive knowledge system that has safeguarded Sri Lanka's cultural and spiritual heritage. He highlighted that Pali education currently operates across three separate sectors—schools, monastic institutions known as Pirivenas, and universities—and called for enhanced collaboration among these bodies. The speaker noted that declining interest in humanities education stems partly from limited employment prospects, making forums such as this essential for the discipline's advancement.

Vijithadhamma Thera pointed to international precedents, citing Thailand and Cambodia's use of national Pali examinations, and suggested Sri Lanka consider adopting similar measures. He also emphasized the potential of digital technologies, particularly optical character recognition software, to digitize palm-leaf manuscripts and expand accessibility to Pali texts. Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha underscored India's commitment to the effort, noting that his government granted Pali Classical Language status in October 2024—a decision personally acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is currently supporting initiatives to reprint classical Pali texts, including important grammar works.

Discussions centered on strengthening cooperation between Sri Lankan and international Pali scholars while developing a sustainable national program for the language's study, research, and preservation. Participants emphasized that protecting Pali requires coordinated efforts involving the government, educational institutions, the Buddhist clergy, technology professionals, and the broader academic community.