KOTTAWA BO TREE
Kottawa was my hometown FOR 28 years until I migrate to OZ in 1990. I know this bo tree since mid sixties. (I was born in 1962). There wasn't any religious significance to this tree whatsoever. There was a butcher shop (mas kade) at the corner of old road and athurugiriya road facing the bo tree, which is barely 20 meters away. There was even fish stalls under this bo tree. There was a traffic island (triangle) and all the beggars, shoe repair man, KADALA KARATHTHE, surrounded this tree, and no access to come (or worship) near this tree. They all tie their shades to this bo tree.
Later (may be early 80s) that traffic triangle removed and asphalted around the tree to extend the CTB bus park. CTB buses use to park in front of shopping strip from HIMALI STORES TO PREMA HOTEL. But when lots of new bus routes added and use kottawa as their terminus, authorities had to extend the bus park.
As a Buddhist myself, I respect Buddhism and Lord Buddha's teachings, but cut down a KAPUTU BO TREE to get rid of traffic congestion is nothing to do with religion.