By Dr. Hema Goonatilake Introduction   One of the earliest references to Buddhism in Myanmar is in the Dipavamsa and the Mahavamsa where mention is made of the two missionaries, Sona and Uttara sent by Emperor Asoka to Suvannabhumi at the same time Arahat Mahinda came to Sri Lanka. Suvannabhumi has been identified as Lower Burma. According to both Sinhalese and Burmese historical records, however, direct religious and cultural relations between Sri Lanka and Myanmar began in the 11 th  century.  Although India was the country of birth of the founder of Buddhism, Sri Lanka soon became an important centre of propagation of the Dhamma after Thera Mahinda’s teachings took a strong foothold in the country. Writing down of the Tripitaka in the 1 st   century B.C. and its translation into Pali in the 5 th  century CE, the Sinhala commentaries on the Tripitaka coming down from the time of Thera ...