The office of the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs was created and the Department of the Buddhist Affairs was established by a special amendment brought on 02nd July 1981 to the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance No.19 of 1931. Buddhist Affairs and Dhamma Schools which were under the Department of Cultural Affairs till then and the Buddhist temple activities handled by the Public. Trustee were assigned to the Department of Buddhist Affairs. Affairs relating to the Buddhists and Dhamma schools were previously under the control of the Buddhist Affairs Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs of Viharas were supervised by the Department of Public Trustee headed by the Public Trustee.By now 07 Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs and 02 Commissioner Generals have been appointed to the Department. The present holder of the post is the second Commissioner Gener al of Buddhist Affairs.