Source: AI Overview 

The false narrative of the Buddha being born in Sri Lanka will cause irreparable harm to the integrity of Buddhism, unnecessarily create division, and most importantly undermine the saddha ( faith and trust) in the credibility of the life story of the Buddha and eventually damage the Buddha Sasana.

AI Overview

The assertion that the Buddha was born in Sri Lanka is considered a false narrative by mainstream historians, archaeologists, and the global Buddhist community, who widely recognize Lumbini, Nepal—part of the ancient Indian subcontinent—as the true birthplace

. Proponents of this view argue that such claims are harmful, creating unnecessary conflict and undermining the credibility of the life story of the Buddha.

Impact on Buddhism and the Buddha Sasana

• Undermining Saddha (Faith): Spreading unsubstantiated myths, such as “Sinhalizing” or ‘ nationalizing’ the Buddha, can lead to doubts about the historical authenticity of Buddhist scriptures, ultimately weakening the faith and trust (saddha) of followers.
• Creating Division and Conflict: This narrative has been described as a “canard” that promotes schisms within the Buddhist community and encourages “super-nationalism” over genuine spiritual practice.
• Distortion of History: Experts warn that ignoring the extensive archaeological evidence—such as the Ashoka Pillar in Lumbini and various ancient Pali sources—to promote a local origin myth disrupts the established historical foundations of Buddhism.
• Political Motivation: Observers suggest this narrative is often pushed by groups with political or ideological agendas rather than historical accuracy, which can create unnecessary social and political tension, and schisms within the Buddhist followers. 

Historical Consensus on the Birthplace

• Lumbini, Nepal: The consensus, backed by UNESCO and archaeological findings, is that Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini, Nepal, in 623 BCE, and later attained Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in India.
• Archaeological Evidence: The Ashoka Pillar, erected around 249 BCE, explicitly marks the spot in Lumbini as the Buddha’s birthplace.
• The “Jambudvipa” Argument: Some proponents of the Sri Lankan birth theory misinterpret Jambudvipa (the ancient name for the Indian subcontinent) as a term for ancient Sri Lanka, a claim rejected by specialists. 

While  Historical chronicles (like the Mahavamsa) record that the Buddha visited the island three times, this is distinct from being born there, and the visits themselves are treated as historical events that occurred after his enlightenment in India.

Source: AI Overview