Twenty-five (25) years before, for the first time, the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies at the University of Kelaniya introduced this Diploma programme in Pali and Buddhist Studies under the special provisions obtained from UGC to provide quality education and a world-recognized certificate to the eligible and qualified foreign students who expect to study Pali and Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Under this study programme, thousands of foreign students, particularly foreign monks, and nuns obtained Diplomas in Pali and Buddhist studies and were qualified to follow higher academic programmes in the field. Currently, many of them hold higher academic and administrative positions in many parts of the world. Perhaps, this could be one of the oldest academic programmes for foreign candidates in Buddhist countries which has produced the highest number of Diploma holders in Pali and Buddhist studies in Sri Lanka. In addition of the home programme conducted in the main campus, in the last few years, the Department introduced this Diploma as well as BA and MA programmes to foreign countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, China Hongkong and the USA. Though the syllabus of the Diploma course was amended in 2018, considering the request of foreign institutions. the Department decided to add few more course units to the syllabus.