A pirivena (plural: piriven) is a monastic college for the education of monks in Sri Lanka.
[2][3] The term is derived from the Pali word for 'living quarters', referring to how these institutions were aimed at teaching priests and monks on the island.
It is mostly unique to Sri Lanka, but similar to universities found in mainland India.
The students are taught six subjects; Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala, English, Tipitaka studies and mathematics.
[3] The Maha level offers higher education, allowing students to enter a variety of subjects including philosophy, the history of religions, linguistics, Ayurveda, and astrology.