The two countries have had long historic ties, stemming from the establishment of Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhism as the first unifying religion during the Bagan Kingdom.

The generally held belief within Myanmar is that a Bhikkhu (monk) named Shin Arahan from Thaton introduced Theravada Buddhism to the Bagan Kingdom.

[2] Anawrahta invited monks from Sri Lanka, among others, after banishing Ari priests in an attempt to revitalize a more orthodox form of Buddhism.

[9] Sithu II would re-establish friendly relations with the revival of a Sinhala monastic tradition by building several monasteries dedicated to Sri Lankan monks, particularly in the town of Myinkaba.

Most prominently, King Dhammazedi of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom was educated in a Sinhala Sangha monastery in Ava before his accession to the throne in 1471.

Rival Sri Lankan kingdoms were keen to receive his support as Bayinnaung viewed himself the protector of Theravada Buddhism sending many presents to the Tooth of Kandy.

[16] The monkhood order in Sri Lanka had become extinct thrice before this introduction where the Vinaya had been abandoned by some monks in the Kingdom of Kandy.

According to Heinz Bechert, this eventually led to Buddhist modernism in postcolonial Sri Lanka, where the role of the sangha was reduced in favour of reinterpreting Buddhism as a scientific religion.

Due to boycotts over the military junta's human rights record, Japan's Nenbutsushu sect boycotted the meeting.

[20] However, the prime minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa made an appearance at the conference with Myanmar's leader Than Shwe.

[4] The growth of Buddhist nationalism in both Sri Lanka and Myanmar during the 2010s, prompted media coverage to group the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and the 969 Movement in each respective country together.

While both groups formed in response to major political changes and gained momentum from increased global anti-Muslim sentiment, they differ in BBS's self-conscious approach towards Buddhist modernism.

[27] Since 1999, Myanmar established stronger trade ties with Sri Lanka as part of the State Peace and Development Council's market-orientated reforms.