History says that Lord Buddha in his fifth year of Supreme Enlightenment visited Nagadeepa, his second visit to Sri Lanka, to settle a dispute between two Naga kings Chulodara and Mahodara, over a gem-studded throne. Filled with “sharda” (devotion) after hearing the sermon on “Metta” (loving kindness) and “Karuna” (compassion) preached by the Buddha, they had offered the throne to the Buddha. A “chaitya” (pagoda or domed temple) named “Nagadeepa Seya” had subsequently been constructed at the site in which that thronewas enshrined.
The Nagadeepa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya (Ancient Royal Temple at Nagadeepa) draws large crowds from all corners of the country due to its historical and cultural importance. The temple is today fully functional for the benefit of devotees under the patronage of the Sri Lanka Navy which carries out all its maintenance, provides daily arms to residing Buddhist monks and assists in the conduct of daily “poojas” (offerings to Lord Buddha).

Naval Personnel of the Nagadeepa Naval Deployment, which functions in tandem with the  SLNS Elara in Karainagar under the Northern Naval Command, are always on hand to extend any form of assistance to all devotees and sundry visitors to this shrine. They help in ensuring safe embarkation and disembarkation from ferries which bring them from Kurikadduwan in a 15-minute ferry ride. Guidance and security for the visitors are also provided by them so that visits are completed without any hassle. Naval medical personnel stand by to provide emergency medical assistance when needed.