Buddhist adherents in Sri Lanka follow the Theravada form of Buddhism, which emphasizes individual efforts in the pursuit of spiritual development through meditation and moral living. Therefore, the founder of Buddhism Shakyamuni is usually revered as a great teacher rather than as a deity. Images of the Buddha in this tradition represent him as monk wearing robes. However, because of his enlightened status, he was seen as a perfected human. To convey a sense of his extraordinary spiritual development, he is marked with a protuberance on the top of his head (an ushnisha or sign of wisdom), elongated earlobes (indicating nobility), a serene facial expression, and full and symmetrical physical proportions. He also performs with his right hand, a gesture (mudra) that urges the supplicant not to be afraid.

The Buddha wears two garments—a skirt, its lower hem visible from above the ankles, and a long robe arranged to leave the right shoulder bare. The robe clings tightly to the body, emphasizing the somewhat sensual treatment of the well modeled figure.