The Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Kolitha Goonatilleke declared open the newly constructed temple at SLAF Base Katunayake on Poson Poya Day which fell on 2 June 2015 upon the invitation of the Base Commander Air Commodore Sudarshana  Pathirana.

This newly constructed temple is located in a scenic location close to the lake within the Base and consists with all three sacred elements included in a temple. Further, the temple is located closer to another two “Bo Trees” in the premises which add to the religious value of the shrine.

The “Bo Tree” of the temple was planted from an offshoot of the sacred “Sri Maha Bodhiya” at Anuradhapura and the pagoda was erected by enshrining the sacred relics of the Lord Buddha donated by Venerable Sumedha Thissa Thero, the chief incumbent of the Abesekararamaya Temple of Negombo who guided all religious activities related to the shrine from the inception.

The Commander of the Air Force and Madam Roshani Gunatilleke were joined by the Base Commander, Commanding Officers of the formations, all officers and other ranks of the Base and their families at the ceremony.