What’s Special About the Police at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya

Millions of devotees visit the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya every year, dressed in white.

Among them, one often sees hundreds of Buddhist monks clad in saffron robes.

Whether you arrive at dawn or at dusk, the sacred precinct is always filled with worshippers.

The chanting of sermons, Pirith, and prayers seeking the blessings of the Lord Buddha never cease.

Yet, despite the large crowds, there is an overwhelming sense of calm.

People appear emotionally balanced in this sacred space—there is no loud laughter, no ego or attitude, no shouting or screaming.

Everything feels serene and composed.

For the millions who visit, both locals and foreigners alike—Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya feels like a place of solitude, even amidst the crowd.

What Makes ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya’ So Special?

Located in Anuradhapura, an ancient Kindgom, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world.

Its universal spiritual power centers around a single Bo Tree.

To understand its significance, one must look back over 2,600 years.

Lord Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment while seated under an Esathu (Bodhi) Tree on the banks of the Neranjana River in Bodhgaya, India.

From that moment, the tree itself became deeply venerated.

The Bo Tree at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya is grown from a southern branch of that original sacred tree.

In 236 BC, the Buddhist nun Sanghamitta Maha Theri brought this sacred branch to Sri Lanka, where it was planted in Anuradhapura.

Today, it stands as the oldest recorded living tree in the world, continuously protected and revered.

Special Protection for a Sacred Site

Given its immense religious and historical importance, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya receives special protection.

The Sri Lanka Police provide continuous security for both the sacred site and its visitors.

What Is Special About the Police Officers Here?

While the standard Sri Lanka Police uniform is brown, the officers stationed at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya wear white uniforms.

Police Officers here wear ‘White Uniforms’

“There are only two places in Sri Lanka where we wear white uniforms,” said an administrative officer of the sacred place.

According to him, one place is the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, and the other is at the Sacred Tooth Relic Temple in Kandy.

This tradition is maintained purely out of respect for these sacred sites and to preserve their calm and serene environment.

So, the next time you visit Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, make sure to capture a photograph also with Sri Lanka’s only white-clad police officers.