 While the British controlled the country they attempted to destroy this sacred tree but were thwarted by local buddhists, who protected the tree with their lives.The people who led the protection of the tree were merchants, police and buddhist officers on the urban council.A procession was organised from Kotuwegoda to bring a statue of Buddha, led by Daniel Abeysuriya, a local lawyer, who was also the vice president of Sinhala Maha Sabha.