Royal College Union (RCU) the old-boys’ arm of the Royal College was started on 17 January 1891 It has no doubt weathered many storms from the Victorian times up to now and evolved into a modern alumni association fully aware and sensitive to the ground situation of the country and the needs of the present student population of Royal College. The student population of the College has now evolved as a microcosm of the Sri Lankan population, with children from all races, religions, all walks of life rubbing shoulders with each other.
This composition, while being a good fermenting process to mould children to face the future Sri Lankan and world society, has its own problems that our forefathers who brought forth the union in 1891 did not have or even could imagined. However, we have not only successfully faced them but also conquered them to assist our Alma Mater, to continue to be the top most primary and secondary education institution in the country.
It is also important to note that the RCU, its affiliates and member groups spend approximately 30 million rupees (SLR) annually towards co-curricular, extra-curricular, sports, skills development, scholarship awarding, student welfare, teachers welfare and other activities of our alma-mater. In addition the RCU has over the years built and donated many infrastructure facilities valued over approximately 400 million rupees (SLR), such as the RC Sports Complex, Swimming pool, new Hostel building, Skills Development, Career guidance and counselling centre and JRJ Pavilion amongst many others.
As a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative the RCU organizes the annual EDEX exhibition (Sri Lanka’s largest Higher Education and Careers exhibition) which also makes the single most significant financial contribution to the RCU trust.
The Unionlooks after the requirements of needy and academically, aesthetically or athletically capable students via the Loyalty Pledge scheme. Funds are obtained from generous old boys and well-wishers who voluntarily donate money to the scheme periodically – monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc. and scholarships are awarded to the needy students.
Going beyond on the CSR root to celebrate it’s Quasquicentennial year on the 6th of October, members ofthe RCU (by partnering with “Trail 2016”)will be walking from Northern Point Pedro to Southern Dondra Head for 28 days, with the aim of raising USD 5 million, in order to build a cancer treatment facility, as part of an extension of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle.
Established in 1982, the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital is the 3rd largest national hospital in the country and the most accessed healthcare centre in the Southern part of Sri Lanka. In 2015, the hospital recorded its highest number of cancer related deaths and national incidence is on the rise. In addition, it has seen a dramatic influx of patients traveling from surrounding provinces seeking treatment. The hospital is understaffed and over capacity – it is in dire need of an expansion.
The facility will be named as “Royal College Union – Childrens’ ward”.
The– Trail 2016 is the ‘Walk Back’ post the success of Trail 2011 brought to light the powerful impact created when individuals across the country were united in building Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital in Jaffna.
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