The late Ordinary Seaman Sampath was a mechanical engineering mate of the Civil Engineering Branch of the Sri Lanka Navy recruited under the Volunteer Special Scheme. He was serving attached to SLNS Mahasen in Welisara at the time of his untimely death due to a road traffic accident.
The timely intervention of the Navy's "Naviru Saviya" had been a great consolation to the family of the late Ordinary Seaman, who was a father of a five-year-old son. His grieving wife expressed her heart-felt gratitude to the Navy for the generosity in lending her a helping hand at a time of her bereavement due to the loss of her beloved husband. "Naviru Saviya" is a health care scheme, which operates as a non-public fund under the direct supervision of the Commander of the Navy. It provides financial assistance to its members and their families during death, critical illness, permanent and partial disability, general illness, surgery and medical tests.
This year from January to July alone, "Naviru Saviya" has provided financial assistance to its members amounting to Rs. 60 million which include Rs. 13 million paid as death compensation and Rs. 47 million paid as medical expenses.