The Royal Ceylon Navy established its Northern Naval Headquarters in 1950 on the island of Karainagar. It was called the Karainagar Elara Naval Base. From then on the relationship between the Navy and the Nagadeepa ancient temple also began. In the year 1955, the Ceylon Navy was presented with a 5 feet high gold plated metal Buddha statue from Myanmar Royal Navy with a ground touch seal as a symbol of friendship between the Royal Navy of Myanmar and the Royal Ceylon Navy. It was decided to offer the Buddha statue to the Nagadeepa Vihara, then the statue was taken to the Nagadeepa sacred area in a grand procession. Since then the relationship between the Navy and the Nagadeepa Temple has been established. 

 

                           With the outbreak of the communal struggle in 1958, the Navy offered protection to the young monks, including the Chief Incumbent of the Nagadeepa Purana Vihara. They were taken to Elara Naval Base and cared for on all fours for about three months. The Navy also assisted in rebuilding the Nagadeepa Temple which was destroyed by fire and demolished. From time to time during the boycotts, fasting and protests led by the political leaders of Jaffna, the Elara naval officers turned their attention to the Nagadeepa temple. During the riots in Jaffna with the political upheaval of 1977, a naval force from the Elara Naval Base arrived in Nagadeepa and prepared to encamp at the temple, but at the strong request of the Chief Incumbent, they returned to the Elara Camp. 

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The service of the Sri Lanka Navy was not limited to providing security to the Nagadeepa Temple. As the threat of terrorism continued to rise, in 1982, a Buddhist devotee in Thailand, offered a metal Buddha statue along with two Sariyut Mughalan statues to the Nagadeepa Purana Vihara. The statues were brought to Nagadeepa by a Karainagar Navy boat procession on a land route. They also undertook to construct boundaries for the subsistence rituals which would contribute to the disciplinary existence of the Bhikku Sasana. Accordingly, the foundation stone was laid on September 7, 1989 by the then Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Ananda Silva. The Seema Mandiraya was built with the labor of the Navy personnel and was donated to the Maha Sangha in 1992 by the then Commander of the Navy, Clancy Fernando (who was killed in a terrorist attack at the Galle Face on November 16 of the same year). This was an excellent service rendered by the Navy to the Sasana. The construction of the mansion, which was adopted on July 13, 1973, enabled it to avoid natural calamities during subsistence. 

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                         As LTTE terrorism continued to rise, naval heroes sacrificed their precious young lives for the Nagadeepa Temple. Three naval personnel were killed when a bomb planted by LTTE terrorists exploded at the Nagadeepa ferry on its way from Karainagar to the PC (Tony Craft) 110 naval vessel reserved for the daily needs of the naval division of the Nagadeepa Vihara.

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     Victims of the March 3, 1986 attack

                            1. Chief Petty Officer K.M. Mr. Sunil
                            2. Petty Officer W.R.A. Mr. Somapala
                            3. Able Seaman DHS. Mr. Silva

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    Naval personnel killed in a terrorist bomb blast off the coast of Analativu on September 22, 1991 while returning to Nagadeepa on a Navy P143 express vessel.

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                            1. Commanding Officer A Mahinda Abeysinghe Gunasekara
                            2. Lieutenant LP Ranjith
                            3. Petty Officer HB Ariyaratne
                            4. Able Seaman AB Padmasiri
                            5. Able Seaman GWS Abeyratne
                            6. Able Seaman SAA Lakshman

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                        Heroes of the naval divisions including the Elara Naval Base were dedicated to fulfilling the needs of the Nagadeepa Vihara even at midnight despite the risk to their lives. From 1984 up to now, the annual Katina ceremony of the Nagadeepa Purana Vihara has been conducted with the financial and labor contribution of the Navy. It is with gratitude that the participation and assistance of all Buddhist and non-Buddhist officers, from the Commander of the Navy, is received here. Up country and low country dance troupes of the Navy are coming from Colombo to participate in the Katina Perahera. The beautiful procession carrying the Katina Chiwara travels all over the island of Nagadeepa and arrives at the temple. Tamils ​​gather on both sides of the road to watch the procession. To them, this is an incredibly fascinating thing. This includes dances by school children in Nagadeepa. The service rendered by the Navy based on the Nagadeepa Temple to build unity and connection between races and religions is not insignificant. 

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                         Admiral Daya Sandagiri, who is currently retiring as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy for many years, rendered a great service to the Nagadeepa Purana Vihara. After assuming duties at the Elara Naval Base in 1972, he established relations with the Chief Incumbent of the Nagadeepa Vihara. During the turmoil with the political changes of 1977, a naval force was sent to protect the Nagadeepa temple. During the riots in July 1983, more than 100 naval personnel came to the Nagadeepa temple to take care of the temple. Apart from this, the Navy also carries out all the activities of the temple such as conducting food poojas and cleaning the courtyards of the shrines.

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                          Also, the service rendered by the Navy when the Most Venerable Brahmanawatte Dhammakiththi Tissa Mahanayake Thero, who was the Chief Incumbent of the Nagadeepa Vihara, suddenly fell ill was immense. While he needed urgent treatment, facilities were not available at the Nagadeepa Government Hospital. As the terrorist threat was not completely removed from the city of Jaffna, the chances of safe treatment at the Jaffna General Hospital were slim. Therefore, Admiral Daya Sandagiri took an immediate decision. He was treated at the Colombo Naval Hospital with residential facilities that had never been provided to any monk or outsider before. Accordingly, for the first time in the year 2000, he was admitted to the Naval Hospital where he was treated for almost 9 months with all kinds of amenities. He was later admitted to the Navy Hospital where he was treated until his death. Also, the Cremation Ceremony of the Ven, the Seven Day Alms Giving Ceremony and yearly alms giving ceremonies up to now, are completely handled by Sri Lanka Navy. 

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Like this, Sri Lanka Navy will protect the ancient Nagadeepa Rajamaha Viharaya in the past, present and future.

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