During the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, the Buddhist nun Sanghamitta Maha Theri brought to this country a sapling from the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, which was planted in the Mahamevnāwa Uyana in Anuradhapura. The Mahāvaṃsa clearly records that eight Bodhi-saplings one was planted at the that sprouted from that sacred tree was offered to the Kshatriya royal family of Kataragama, who also participated in that auspicious Bodhi-planting ceremony.

The Ashtapala Ruha Bodhi , planted in this manner, can be seen behind the Maha Devalaya building within the present-day premises of the Kataragama Maha Devalaya in Ruhunu.

It is also noteworthy that, among the eight Ashtapala Ruha Bodhi Theras planted in eight locations across Sri Lanka during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa, only the Ashtapala Ruha Bodhi Thera in Kataragama has been preserved. It is one of the monastic elements of the historic Kiri Vehera Rajamaha Viharaya complex.