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The Primary Section of Royal College had its first ever five day Swimming Carnival from 07^th to 11^th May 2018 at the College Swimming Pool

The main objective of this  event was to promote sports, amongst children in the junior grades especially  promote swimming . Throughout the Carnival, there were ample opportunities for the youngsters to take part in some kind of an aquatic  game, even for those  who are unable  to swim at all.. As swimming is mostly considered  an individual game, these activities were included also in order to promote the team spirit amongst the children.

This was a magnificent event with a participation of approximately 69% of the total student population  in the Primary Section. As this was held for the first time in the history of Royal College  with no any benchmarks to follow, the process facilitation had to be  done by the Old Royalists’ HR Professionals’ Association (ORHRPA) on a request of the College Authorities. “This would be just a start of a long journey for swimming  at Royal College. A well-structured approach resulted in this remarkable success with the support of the College senior leadership team and the parent groups, appointed with varying responsibilities, as the organizing committee”  stated Prabhash Hettiarachchi,  President  –  ORHRPA. Furthermore, he appreciated the leadership support given by the senior leadership of the College,  Secretary of the RCU, Mrs. Subhodha Samarasinghe,  Teacher-in-charge of Swimming of the Primary Section and Mr. Nishantha de Costa, the Head Coach and his team.

A separate solemn award ceremony was held in the presence of Director of Sports  in the Ministry of Education, Col. Manjula Kariyawasam as the Chief Guest and Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe  former Navy Commander  & High Commissioner to Australia as the Guest of Honour at Navarangahala, on 31^st May 2018.

The annual medical screening programme for the students of grade 6 was conducted for the 16^th consecutive year, on the 8^th of May 2018, from 7.30 am to 10.30 am at the grade 6 building premises. This programme was organized by the Royal College Doctors Association (RCDA) in collaboration with Loyalty Pledge(LP). Principal, deputy principals, vice principals, senior games master of Royal College and assistant secretary of the RCU graced the occasion. Dr Sandacan Waduge and Dr Nayanajith Komasaru were the chief organizers of the event and Miss Sharlene de Chickera was the coordinator of Loyalty Pledge. 15 RCDA members were assigned as coordinators for each class. The programme was conducted with the participation of 60 doctors including Dr Ajith Tennakoon (President-RCDA), senior office bearers of the Loyalty Pledge including Mr Abhaya Amaradasa (Chairman-LP) and Edex and 45 prefects/stewards.

Of the 698 students of grade 6, 654 students participated in the screening program that featured symptoms analysis, BMI (body mass index) assessment, hearing and vision checks and general medical examinations. 305 students were identified as having medical problems and of these students 42 had multiple problems. The following is a summary of the medical problems identified.

All eye referrals were taken over by Dr Hiranya Abeysekera (Consultant Paediatric Eye Surgeon) and all nutritional referrals were taken over by Dr SBT Weerasekara and Dr Ahmad Rushdie (medical nutritionists). Dr Lakmal Kulasekara, Dr Sandaruwan Rajapaksha and Dr Nilanga Peiris arranged follow up for all dental cases. The remaining children with medical issues were referred to relevant specialists of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Borella. The screening programme will be followed up by onsite nutritional and ophthalmological interventional programmes and long-term monitoring.

The organizers would like to convey their sincere gratitude to all RCDA members for their professional assistance, to Loyalty Pledge for funding and guiding the programme, to the Master in charge of prefects and all prefects and stewards for timely participation, to the grade head and all teaching staff of grade 6 for their cooperation and to all the students for their participation.

Compiled by: Dr.Sandacan Waduge,Dr.Nayanajith Komasaru

The 2018 edition of the Royal Shuttle Service, successfully concluded its ‘three-day journey’ for the second consecutive year, with a record number of travelers using the service.

The Royal Shuttle Service offered a FREE & EXCLUSIVE transport service to the students and the teachers of  Royal College Boys Tent at the 139^th Battle of the Blues, covering three routes; SSC to Panadura (along the Galle Road), SSC to Kadawatha (along Baseline & Kandy Roads) & SSC to Homagama (along the High Level Road).

The Royal Shuttle Service was deployed along the aforesaid  routes, after the day’s play on the 9^th, 10^th and 11^th March, assuring a safe journey home, to almost 400 students and teachers of the  College.

In addition, a group of approximately 50 students of  St Thomas’ College Boys Tent also used the Royal Shuttle Service to reach home after the day’s play. This was a key highlight of the project in 2018 and a true occasion of keeping up with the real Roy-Tho spirit.

This exclusive service is a proud project of the Royal College Group of 2008, which is celebrating its 10^th anniversary, this year.

Sri Lanka Insurance was the Co-sponsor for the 2018 edition of the Royal Shuttle

The Royal College Union Skills Centre Auditorium was the venue for the 15^th Loyalty Pledge Scholarship Awards ceremony, on 30^th June 2017, to award 200 scholarships.

Donors, who were past Royalists and non-Royalists as well, were pinned Purple Orchids on their shirt lapels. Parents who had travelled from afar sat in the hall anticipating the event, and the students and undergraduates, proud recipients of the awards, crowded the ceremony, symbolic of transformation, progress and a journey of incessant love.

The 15^th Anniversary of the Loyalty Pledge Ceremony also epitomised the vision of its founders, to empower young Royalists to become high achievers at Royal College, with a plan to succeed in the future, in a chosen career.

The event was presided over by the patron of Royal College Union (RCU), the Principal of Royal College, Mr. B.A. Abeyrathne. The selected recipients received their accolades from the Principal of Royal College, Vice-Principals, Past Royalists and Committee Members of Loyalty Pledge, at the ceremony.

Donors who had generously given, took time off to attend the ceremony. Non-Royalist well-wishers sent messages while foreign donors expressed positive sentiments about the programme. ‘Re-paying the debt’ to one’s beloved alma mater had influenced others to give as well, permeating to the society at large.

This year, 185 school students and 12 undergraduates who were short-listed for the awards ceremony were privileged to be part of the ceremony. The Loyalty Pledge Committee had spent weeks on assessing the details of the students to ensure that the benchmarks of 60 marks and participation in a sport and society were met. The 12 undergraduates that were present were also selected on merit and economic need.

The recipients were exposed to the experience, insights and wisdom of their senior Royalists on this special day.

On the 25^th of February, marked the annual health camp successfully organised for the 19^th consecutive year, by the Royal College Doctors’ Association for the present and past teachers of the College and their spouses.

Principal of Royal College Mr.B.A. Abeyrathna graced the occasion as the chief guest, while, former principals of Royal College Mr.B. Sooriarachchi & Mr. S.H. Kumarasinghe were present as guests of honour.

Rev sister Siyaguna, Secretary of Royal College past teachers’ association Mrs. Ramya Dharmavardene  , Vice Principal of the senior school Mr. P.Wickramasinghe,  Senior Games Master Mr. M.A.M Riyas,  assistant secretary of the RCU Mr.Mithila Mendis,  president of the RCDA Dr.Ajith Thennakoon and the secretary of the RCDA Dr.Dineth Jayawardhana were among the distinguished guests, present at the occation.

Over 450 teachers, both past and present, attended the screening programme.  Nearly 200 doctors, all being old Royalist, from diverse areas of specialisation gathered to offer their services as a mark of gratitude to the teachers of their almamater, as a means of repaying their debt.

The RCDA applauds, the chief organizer of the teachers clinic 2018 Dr. Manola Nanayakkara, and  his assistant organizers Dr Krishantha Peiris and Dr Dinesh Ranasinghe, for a  job well done; while acknowledging the effort of the sedulous and efficient  team of doctors who worked tirelessly with them for the past three months up to the run up of the event, in order to make this event, a roaring success.

The glittering Alles-Gunasekera Cup made its inaugural journey to Reid Avenue to take shelter at Royal College when their Under-19 cagers scored a calculated win over Gateway College at the Henry Pedris Basketball Complex on Saturday, 17^th Feb 2018.

The game got off at a terrific pace as both sides made speedy invasions into each other’s territory, with brave attempts to score.

Royal went ahead in the first quarter 18-11. Gateway tried to come back to the game in the second quarter adding 15 shoots, but Royal playing a more organised game closed with a 30-26 lead at half-time.

Both sides tried to dominate during the third quarter and the spectators witnessed a superb game of basketball, with some electrifying movements, with each school trying to improve their respective tallies.

Both sides missed some opportunities, but Royal never stopped from where they started and ended the third quarter with a lead of 40-34.

It was a ding dong battle in the final quarter, but Royal lived up to their reputation of National Schools Basketball champion and ended the game with a close 46-43 score, the proud winners of the inaugural encounter.

Chavaan De Costa of Gateway College was adjudged the Best Offensive Player while the Best Defensive Player award was won by Royal skipper Tharindu Balasuriya.

Rukshan Athapaththu of Royal College walked away with the Most Valuable Player of the Match award.

Inaugural Dinner

Royal College Basketball Advisory and Management Committee hosted a dinner at Royal College MAS Arena on 15^th February 2018, to mark the inaugural Royal – Gateway Annual Basketball Encounter played for the Alles – Gunasekera Cup.

Players and support staff of both teams, Principal of Royal College and Chairman of Gateway College with their key school officials, members of the Joint Organising Committee, dignitaries of the RCU together with the members of the Royal College Basketball Advisory and Management Committee were present at this momentous occasion.

This dinner was aimed at building and developing camaraderie between both the teams and institutions to pave the way for a rich set of lasting traditions revolving around this prestigious encounter.

Senior Games Master’s Room and Counselling Room re-furbished.

The Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) of Royal College Union has been instrumental in preserving, re-furbishing and beautifying selected buildings and rooms of their majestic alma mater, so that present day Royalists, enjoy facilities on par with the best standards of a premier public school.

Adding another feather to their cap, the IDC collaborated with RC Group of ‘70 and spearheaded the re-furbishment of the Senior Games’ Master’s Room and Counselling Room. This is the 19^th project undertaken by the IDC.

The two rooms were ceremoniously opened by the Principal of Royal College on February 14^th, 2018.

The Principal of Royal College, Mr. B.A. Abeyrathna commended the efforts taken by the IDC, in supporting two critical facets of a student’s life; the necessity for counselling and participation in sports.

The Secretary, Royal College Union, Mr. Athula Munasinghe stated that he was pleased to wear two ‘hats’ on the occasion.

He cited Major H.L. Reed’s ethos of being an exemplary Old Boy Union, and sharing time, talent and resources for the benefit of Royal College and its students, as being paramount.

Orchestrating the projects and seeing to every minute detail, together with the expertise of the IDC, Mr. Mahinda Galagedera, Chairman, said he was pleased that his Committee was instrumental in giving back to their beloved alma mater, and preserving the aesthetic beauty of College.

Members of the IDC, RC group of ’70, Principal, the Senior Games Master, Mr. M.M. Riyaz, Royal College Counsellor, Mr. Ajith Herath, Chief Architect, Mr. Nalin Jayasinghe, senior masters and representatives from the Royal College Union, were present on the occasion.

Chairman – Volleyball Advisory and management Committee