A sapling of the Sacred Bo Tree at Bodhgaya, under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka by Rev. Sangamitta in 246 B.C., during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa and planted in the Mahamevuna Gardens.

Fa-Hsien-the Chinese Traveller who was in Sri Lanka for 2 years (411-413 A.D.) saw the tree propped up as it was leaning to South East.

King Vasabha (67-111 A.D.) built the Bodhi Tree Temple, which contained 4 images of the Buddha.

When the capital was shifted to Polonnaruwa and Dambadeniya, the people who lived close by to the Tanks looked after the Bo Tree by lighting fires around the tree to stop wild elephants coming and damaging the tree.

This is oldest, historically authenticated tree in the world.