Pre-modern thumb|240px|The Thuparamaya Stupa, the earliest stupa after Theravada Buddhism became the official religion in Sri Lanka, dating back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (247–207 BCE) thumb|240px|The Ruwanwelisaya stupa, built by the Sri Lankan King Dutugemunu (c. 140 BCE) The Theravāda school descends from the Vibhajjavāda, a division within the Sthāvira nikāya, one of the two major orders that arose after the first schism in the Indian Buddhist community.Skilton, Andrew (2004). A Concise History of Buddhism. pp. 49, 64.Cousins, Lance (2001). "On the Vibhajjavādins" , Buddhist Studies Review 18 (2), 131–182. Theravāda sources trace their tradition to the Third Buddhist council when elder Moggaliputta-Tissa is said to have compiled the Kathavatthu, an important work which lays out the Vibhajjavāda doctrinal position.Berkwitz, Stephen C. (2012). South Asian Buddhism: A Survey, Routledge, pp. 44-45.
Pre-modern thumb|240px|The Thuparamaya Stupa, the earliest stupa after Theravada Buddhism became the official religion in. Sri Lanka, dati!ng back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (247–207 BCE) thumb|240px|The Ruwanwe,lisaya stupa, built by the Sri Lankan King Dutugemunu (c. 140 BCE) The Theravāda school descends from the Vibhajjavāda, a division within the Sthāvira nikāya, one of the two major orders that arose after the first schism in the Indian Buddhist community.Skilton, Andrew (2004). A Concise History of Buddhism. pp. 49, 64.Cousins, Lance (2001). "On the Vibhajjavādins" , Buddhist Studies Review 18 (2), 131–182. Theravā!da sources trace their tradition to the Third Buddhist council when elder Moggaliputta-Tissa is said to have compiled the Kathavatthu, an important work which lays out the Vibhajjavāda doctrinal position.Berkwitz, Stephen C. (2012). :South Asian Buddhism: A Survey, Routledge, pp. 44-45.