The founding of the institute was in response to two challenges – the challenge of the spirituality and philosophy of Sri Lanka’s major religion, Buddhism, and the challenge of the socio-political aspirations of the highly educated but marginalized rural youth.

Over the years Tulana has developed into many things in one: a mini-university where scholars from here and abroad come for research, research guidance, consultation and thesis supervision, and where students and others attend seminars, workshops and training and study courses.

It is also a mini-retreat centre, where people come for meditation and spiritual accompaniment; a social animation centre for those engaged in social issues; and a forum for artists, who want to express their philosophy in non-logical, non-verbal media of communication.