Sri Maha Bodhi -our oldest sacred Symbol .

                            

                                                                                                                                 It was over 2000 years ago that Buddhism dawned on Sri Lanka.A band of pilgrims who were the representatives of the Emperor Ashoka of India landed here in 288 BC with the holy message of Buddhism .And with them they brought a gift that would change the course of our early history .                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                            A sapling from the tree of enlightenment had been sent by the emperor as a symbol of faith for the newly converted Buddhist of the island .This was sent under the care of the emperors daughter ,the nun Sanghamitta.                                                                                                       

                              Kind Devanampiyathissa,who was the contemporary ruler of Sri Lanka ,himself saw to the replanting of the tree where it stands today since then this sacred tree is being ggranted protection by the people who worshipped it ,simultaneously a ceremonial festival i.e the poson festfestival is being held every year in the island to commemorate the dawn of Buddhism .Sri Maha Bodhi still stands venerated by every Buddhist here as a direct dedescendant of the Bo tree,beneath which Bodhisattva sought enlightenment and as our oldest sacred Symbol .