Former President Maithripala Sirisena today visited the Crudia Zeylanica tree in Daraluwa which is on the brink of extinction.

The tree, which was nearly removed to facilitate the construction of the Central Expressway, was saved due to the bold effort by Devani Jayathileke, a wildlife officer.

Following the incident, a group of Buddhist monks performed a religious ritual to ordain the tree in order to save it from the road construction project.

After observing the tree, Sirisena said it was important to consider the sensitivity of the eco-system surrounding the tree and save it for the next generation. The former President also added that the authorities must be mindful of its rarity before thinking of the relocation of the tree.

He added that rerooting the tree was impossible and it was necessary to preserve it in its current location.