Royal College, Colombo

2009-07-21T07:15:04Z

123.231.64.130: /* Prefects */

{{coord|6|54|16|N|79|51|40|E|type:city |display=title}}
{{Infobox School
|name = Royal College Colombo
|image = Rclogogold.jpg
|imagesize = 125px
|caption = 
| motto = {{lang-la|[[Disce aut Discede]]}} ("Learn or Depart") ''Floreat'' (Latin:"Flourish")
| motto_pl = Yes
|founder = [[Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, 3rd Baronet]]
|established = 1835
|type = [[Public School|Public]]
|affiliation =
|grades = Class 1 - 13
|president =
|principal = Upali Gunasekara
|head_label =
|head of school =
|dean =
|faculty =
|staff =
|enrollment = 9000
|gender = Boys
|lower_age = 6
|upper_age = 19
|free_label_2 =
|free_2 =
|colours = Blue & Gold
{{color box|navy}}{{color box|#FFD700}}
|campus type =
|campus size = 
|location = [[Colombo]]
|country = [[Sri Lanka]]
|free_label_1 = Former pupils
|free_1 = [[List of Royal College alumni (Old Royalists)|Old Royalists]]
|information =
|publication = Royal College Magazine, The Royalist
|website = [http://www.royalcollege.lk/ www.royalcollege.lk]
}}
The '''Royal College of Colombo''' (commonly known as '''Royal College''') was founded in January 1835. It is considered to be the leading [[Public School]] in [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>[http://www.nation.lk/2008/06/08/special4.htm The Bradby stands the test of time, The Nation]</ref> The oldest public school in the country,<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/060730/funday/OurHeritage.html Colombo Academy becomes Royal College], the [[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|Sundaytimes]]</ref> it is a National School, meaning that it is controlled by the central government as opposed to the Provincial Council and provides both primary and secondary education.

Royal College has produced many distinguished personalities, including two Presidents of two countries, a Sultan, three Prime Ministers and many intellectuals.

==Overview==
Situated in a quiet residential suburb of Colombo known as the [[Cinnamon Gardens]], it occupies an area of 34 acres. The college is funded by the [[Ministry of Education (Sri Lanka)|Ministry of Education]], which appoints its Principal. The Principal is the head of the administration of the College and is assisted by a Vice Principal. The school is divided in to three sections for administrative purposes, these are the primary school (the former [[Royal Preparatory School|Royal College Preparatory School]]), middle school and the upper school, each coming under a deputy principal (the head of the primary school is know as the Headmaster/Headmistress). The college educates close to 9000 students in both secondary and primary education.

==History==
[[File:Royal College Colombo main building.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Royal College Building]]
The school was founded by the Rev. Joseph Marsh, the acting Colonial Chaplain at St. Paul's Church as the '''Hill Street Academy''' in January 1835, as a private institution with 20 students, mainly from the [[upper class]] Burgher community situated at Hill Street, [[Pettah]]. In January 4, 1836, [[Sir Robert John Wilmot-Horton, 3rd Baronet|Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton]], the [[British India|British]] [[Governor of Ceylon]], based on the recommendations of the ''Colebrooke Commission'' converted it, as the '''Colombo Academy'''<ref name="MoE">[http://www.moe.gov.lk/Education_his_1.3.html Historical Overview of Education in Sri Lanka, The British Period: (1796 - 1948 )]</ref>, into an English public school modeled on [[Eton College]], with Marsh continuing as [[Head master]]. The oldest Public School on the island with the governor as its patron, it was intended to give to the children of leading Ceylonese an education which would make them fit to be citizens of the [[British Empire]] and serve as the principal public school and a model for other government schools that were to be built in Ceylon, a role it plays to this day. In July 1836 the school was moved to San Sebastian Hill, Pettah, (prior to which it was at Maradana, next to Hulftsdorp) it would stay there for another 75 years before being shifted to Thurstan Road.

In 1859 it was renamed '''Colombo Academy and Queens College''' and affiliated to the [[University of Oxford]]. In 1865 the Morgan Committee of inquiry into education recommended that it be reorganized and that scholarships should be awarded to study in [[Oxford University|Oxford]]<ref name="MoE"/>. It became the Colombo Academy once again in 1869.

In 1881 it was renamed '''Royal College Colombo''' with the royal consent from [[Her Majesty]] [[Queen Victoria]]. The [[Gazette]] Notification giving Her Majesty's approval to change the name of the school appeared on July 31, 1881. The same year the first cadet battalion in Ceylon was formed at the College, attached to the [[Ceylon Light Infantry]]. The ''Royal College Union'' was formed in 1891 as the first alumni society in the country.
[[Image:UoC main build.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Old College Building (1911-1921),now the University of Colombo]]

On August 27, 1913 the school was moved to its new building at Thurstan Road (which is now the main building of the [[University of Colombo]]). Ten years later on October 10, 1923 the school moved once again, this time to the newly built Victorian styled building on Reid Avenue, which it still occupies. This move was due the suggestion made by a higher education committee in 1914, which suggested that Royal College should be converted in to a [[University College]]. Due to the objections made by members of the Royal College Old Boys Union, especially by the speeches made by [[Frederick Dornhorst]], [[King's Counsel|KC]], the then Governor of Ceylon, [[Robert Chalmers, 1st Baron Chalmers|Lord Chalmers]] instead created a separate University College named [[University of Ceylon|University College Colombo]], at the schools former premises which became the [[University of Colombo]] in the later years. With the introduction of free education in Ceylon in 1931, Royal stopped charging fees from its students thus proving education free of charge to this day.

In 1940 the school was again on the move this time due to the outset of [[World War II]] in the far east. The school was ordered to move out and the [[British Army]] moved in establishing a [[military hospital]] in the school buildings. Principal E.L. Bradby made sure the education of the students was carried on unhindered by moving the students in to four private villas (known as bungalows in Ceylon) at Turret Street, Colombo and shifting the 1-3 forms to '''Glendale''' bungalow in [[Bandarawela]] where it was till 1948. After the war the school was relocated to its old home on Ried Avenue, Colombo. In August 1977 the [[Royal Preparatory School]] was amalgamated to Royal College forming the school's primary school, with it came the county's only [[List of national theatres|national theatre]] at the time the '''[[Navarangahala]]'''.

Five years earlier on May 22, 1972 the members of the [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|House of Representatives]] of the ''Dominion of Ceylon'' met at the Royal Primary School Hall (Navarangahala) enacted the Republican Constitution that established the '''Republic of Sri Lanka'''.<ref>[http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/05/21/jun07.asp May 22: Sri Lanka's Republic Day], Sundayobserver </ref>

==The College today==
The school maintains an excellent academic record with its students archiving the highest grades at national exams held annually. Since its establishment the main medium of education at Royal had been [[English language|English]], however with [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] becoming the [[official language]] along with [[Tamil language|Tamil]] the medium of education was changed to Sinhala and Tamil. Since 2002 English as been reintroduced as a medium of education at the College. Students may select one of the three mediums to conduct their studies in.

The school is equipped with facilities such as [[lecture hall]]s, [[Laboratories|science]] & [[computer lab]]oratories, [[auditorium]]s etc. This includes the 'College Hall' and the [[Navarangahala]] which is a national theater.

The first [[Dormitory|hostel]] of the Colombo Academy was established in San Sebastian in 1868, establishing Royal as one of the first [[boarding school]]s in Sri Lanka. Since then the school has maintained a hostel for students from outside Colombo, with around 230 hostelers.

Sport is a major part of Royal College since the olden days. The school has developed its sports infrastructure which includes a swimming pool<ref name="pool">[http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/11/07/spo07.html Royal - from Beira Lake to man-made swimming pool]</ref>, cricket & athletics grounds, tennis courts, indoor cricket nets and an international standard sports complex for several types of sports. The sports complex built in 2000, short distance from the college hosts many national and school sporting events year round.

==Houses==
[[Image:RC 002.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Royal College Motto on top of the Main Building]]
The students are divided into five [[House system|Houses]]:

*Marsh
*Boake
*Hartley
*Harward
*Reed

The names are derived from distinguished past headmasters and principals of Royal College. The houses compete annually in all major games to win the respective inter-house games.

==Awards==
At present there are 165 Endowed Prizes and Awards. The College Main Hall carries the names of those students who have won the prestigious Panel Prizes. The most coveted prize of Royal is the ''[[Dornhorst Memorial Prize]]'', awarded (since 1930) to the most popular student each year in the memory of [[Frederick Dornhorst]], [[King's Counsel|KC]]. Followed by the ''Lalith Athulathmudali Memorial Prize'' for the most outstanding Royalist of the year. Prizes are awarded at the annual prize-giving under the patronage of the [[President of Sri Lanka]] (earlier under the patronage of the [[Governor of Ceylon]]).

The ''[[Royal Crown (Royal College Colombo)|Royal Crown]]'', is the most prestigious award a sportsman can achieve at Royal, awarded each year at the Colours Night to a sportsman who has made outstanding achievements in his field of sports while ''[[Sporting colours|Colours]]'' are awarded to other players who have made significant contributions in the sporting arena.

=== Scholarship and Prizes===
{|
| '''Prize'''
| '''Year of Institution'''
|-
| Turnour Prize
| 1846 -
|-
| Senior Mathematical Prize
| 1846 - 1934
|-
| Shakespeare Prize
| 1870 - 1932
|-
| English University Scholarship
| 1870 - 1926
|-
| Lorensz Scholarship
| 1876
|-
| Director's Prize
| 1883 - 1921
|-
| De Soysa Science Prize
| 1893
|-
| [[James Peiris|Sir James Peiris]] Memorial Prize
| 1905
|-
| Donald Obeysekera Prize
| 1912
|-
| F Dadabhoy Memorial Prize
| 1922
|-
| The [[Governor of Ceylon|Governor]]'s Prize
| 1922 - 1947
|-
| C M Fernando Memorial Prize
| 1925
|-
| Harward Memorial Prize
| 1926 - 1963
|-
| Steward's Prize
| 1929
|-
| [[Dornhorst Memorial Prize]]
| 1930
|-
| Gate Mudaliar R E Gooneratne Memorial Prize
| 1933
|-
| G L Rupasinghe Memorial Prize
| 1934
|-
| Dr F E Weerasooriya Memorial Prize
| 1934
|-
| Canon Lucien Jansz Memorial Prize
| 1934
|-
| Adigar A Sellamuttu Prize
| 1935
|-
| Ruby Andries Memorial Prize
| 1935
|-
| Stubbs Prize
| 1935 - 1970
|-
| Sir Edward Denham Memorial Prize
| 1939
|-
| [[Charles Alwis Hewavitharana|Dr C A Hewavitarane]] Memorial Prize
| 1942
|-
| Cecil Perera Memorial Scholarship
| 1944
|-
| The [[Governor-General of Ceylon|Governor General]]'s Prize
| 1947 - 1972
|-
| Peter De Abrew Memorial Scholarship
| 1948
|-
| [[Lakdasa De Mel|Dr H L H De Mel]] Memorial Prize
| 1948
|-
| Earle De Zoysa Memorial Prize
| 1952
|-
| P U Ratnaunga Prize
| 1952
|-
| J N Jimendradasa Memorial Prize
| 1954
|-
| [[E. W. Perera|E W Perera]] Memorial Memorial Scholarship
| 1954
|-
| Dudley K G De Silva Prize
| 1957
|-
| R H Wickramasinghe Memorial Prize
| 1957
|-
| Tissa Wickramasinghe Memorial Prize
| 1963
|-
| Amal De Mel Memorial Prize
| 1966
|-
| Harsha Panditha Gunawardena Memorial Scholarship
| 1967
|-
| T D Jayasooriaya Memorial Prize
| 1970
|-
| Mudaliyar L C Wijeshinghe Prize
| 1970
|-
| The [[President of Sri Lanka|President]]'s Prize
| 1973
|-
| Omeon Mendis Memorial Scholarship
| 1973
|-
| 1927 Group Scholarship
| 1978
|-
| [[George Rajapakse]] Memorial Scholarship
| 1973
|-
| Ajantha Wijesena Scholarship
| 1978
|-
| [[Henry de Mel|Sir Henry De Mel]] Memorial Prize
| 1983
|-
| [[Lalith Athulathmudali]] Memorial Prize
| 1994
|-
| [[Junius Richard Jayewardene|J R Jayawardene]] Memorial Prize
| 1997
|-
|}

===Trophies & Sports Scholarship===
* [[Theodore Godfrey Wijesinghe Jayewardene|Col. T.G. Jayawardena]] Memorial Shield
* Maalin Dias Sports Scholarship
* E L Bradby - J C A Corea Prize
* Grp. Capt. D.S. Wickremasinghe Memorial Prize

==College Song==
{{main|School of Our Fathers}}

The College song is '''"School of Our Fathers"''', which is sung at the start of every school day and on other important occasions. The words of the song were written by Major H.L.Reed, a Principal of the school in the third term of 1927. The music was later revised by S. Schmid.

In 1968, a shorter version of the college song in Sinhala was again composed on the instructions of the Principal by the same combination which composed the first song Messrs W.A. Wickramasena and S.J.F. Dissanayake. It is song at the end of the school day.

==Sports==
Sport is a major part of Royal College, with over 21 different sports played. Royal has a long & colourful history in sports with the annual Royal-Thomian [[cricket]] match, the Bradby Shield Encounter and the Regatta taking center stage.

Other sports played at Royal includes;
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{{col-3}}
* Athletics
* Badminton
* Baseball
* Basketball
* Boxing
* Chess
* Cricket

{{col-3}}
* Cycling
* Gymnastics
* Hockey
* Karate
* Rowing[http://www.royalcollegerowing.org/index.htm]
* Rugby Football
* Soccer

{{col-3}}
* Squash
* Swimming/Diving<ref name="pool"/>
* Table Tennis
* Tennis
* Volleyball
* Water Polo
* Wushu

{{col-end}}

===Royal-Thomian===
[[Image:The RC flag at the Royal-Thomian.jpg|thumb|right|A Royal flag at the 128th Royal Thomian]]
{{main|Royal-Thomian}}
Cricket was played at the school from 1838 onwards. The annual [[cricket]] match against the school's [[Royal-Thomian rivalry|traditional rival]], [[S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia]] is the second longest uninterrupted cricket match series in the world. The original match was played between the Colombo Academy and St Thomas' College in 1879, with schoolmasters participating as well as schoolboys. From 1880 onwards, only schoolboys were allowed to play in the match.<ref>[http://www.royalthomian.info/HTML/More%20info.html The Royal Thomian Derby]</ref>

Until 2006 the tally stands with both schools winning 33 each and 61 drawn. This is regarded as the most prestigious cricketing event in the country. This is also preceded by the legendary Cycle Parade which usually happens on the day before the big match, with the official objective of visiting the captain's house to encourage him.

===Royal-Trinity Bradby Shield Encounter===
[[File:Royal-Trinity Bradby Shield.jpg|thumb|right|The Bradby Shield first presented by Principal of Royal College, E. L. Bradby in 1945]]
{{main|Bradby Shield Encounter}}
The annual [[Bradby Shield Encounter|rugby encounter]] against friendly rival [[Trinity College (Kandy)|Trinity College, Kandy]] is the Blue Riband of schools' rugby in Sri Lanka. In fact, it is one of the highlights in the Sri Lankan high society calendar. Rugby was first introduced at Royal in 1916, and the first historic match against Trinity was played in 1920. The Bradby Shield itself was first presented in 1945 by the departing Principal of Royal College, E. L. Bradby. Since 1945, two matches have taken place each year, one up in Kandy and the other down in Colombo. The Shield is awarded to the school that gets the highest aggregate of points in the two match series.

The Centenary match between the two schools was the second leg encounter played in 1983 - the Chief Guest was no less than Mr E.L Bradby himself. The 2008 second leg match will be the 150th match between the two schools.

The 2002 Bradby encounter was the highest scoring encounter for Royal, Led by Zulki Hamid. Winning a record (39-00) in first leg held in Colombo & The winning the second leg (44-00) in Kandy. Thus winning the Bradby Shield with a record aggregate of 83 - 00.

The 2009 Bradby first leg was won by Royal (23 - 12) in Kandy. The second leg was also won by Royal (31 - 15) in Colombo. Thus Royal wins the Bradby for 2009 the with an aggregate of 53 - 27.

===Royal-Thomian Regatta===
[[Image:Senior Pairs 2007.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Royal (nearside) winning Junior Pairs 2007 with new record time.]]
{{main|Royal Thomian Regatta}}
The Royal-Thomian Regatta is the annual [[regatta]] between Royal College and [[S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia]]. The Boat Race which is a coxed fours event initially began in 1962 and by 1966, it broadened out to give rise to the regatta having a card of six events, made up of 2 Single Sculls, 2 Coxless Pairs and 2 Coxed Fours which the 'Boat Race' is the most prestigious. The events take place at the Beira lake (alongside the Colombo Rowing Club) in Colombo around October each year with the T. N. Fernando Trophy awarded to the overall winner.

In 2007, under the captaincy of Maalik Aziz, Royal won the regatta with a record 40 points to nil, for the first time in its illustrious history. The Royal College Crew created new records in all six events including a new record for the Boat Race with a timing of 3 mins 11 secs elapsing the previous record of 3mins 19secs.

==Clubs and societies==
{{main|List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo}}
At Royal College there is much encouragement for the formation of institutions of extracurricular activities since its early days. This was marked with starting of the college magazine and the library in 1837. Today there are over 60 clubs and societies of different kinds.

Some of these are;
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{{col-3}}
* Adventure Club
* [[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Association for Ethnic Harmony|Association for Ethnic Harmony]]
* Archaeological Society
* Architects' Society
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#The Royal College Art Circle|Art Circle]]
*[[Royal College Astronomical Society|Astronomical Society]]
* Aviation Society
* Buddhist Brotherhood
* Catholic Students Union
* Commerce Society
* Computer Society
* Debaters' Council
* Discussion Forum
* English Drama Society
* English Literary Association
* Environment Conservation Society
* Film Society
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#General Knowledge Club of Royal College|General Knowledge Club]]
* Hindu Students Union
* Historical Society

{{col-3}}
* I*earn
* Insurance Society
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Interact Club of Royal College|Interact Club]]
* Islamic Society
* Japanese Society
* Junior Sinahala Literary Association
* Leo Club
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Library Readers Association|Library Readers Association]][http://rclra.net]
* Media Unit [http://www.murc.info]
* Mathematics Society
* National Savings Bank
* Oriental Music Society
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Philatelic Club of Royal College|Philatelic Club]]
* Photographic Society
* Political Science Society
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Radio Club of Royal College|Radio Club]][http://www.fmroyal.info]
* Red Cross Society
* Science Association
* Scrabble Club

{{col-3}}
* Seylan Bank
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#The Royal College Sinhala Drama Society|Sinhala Drama Society]]
* Sinhala Literary Association
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Sinhala Oratory and Debating Society|Sinhala Oratory and Debating Society]]
* SIPSA
* Social Services League
* Student Christian Movement
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Royal College Tamil Debaters.27 Council|Tamil Debaters' Council]]
* Tamil Dramatic Society
* Tamil Karnartic Music Society
*[[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Royal College Tamil Literary Association|Tamil Literary Association]]
* Temperance Society
* United Nations Club
* United Students Circle
* Western Music Society
* Wildlife Protection Society
* Young Biologist's Society
* Young Inventor's Club
* Young Zoologists Association
* Youth Services Association

{{col-end}}

==School magazines==
The college magazine has a history dating back to 1837 when ''The Colombo Academy Miscellany and Juvenile Repository'' was published on a monthly basis during the time of headmaster Rev. Joseph Marsh. The ''Royal College Magazine'' the official school magazine was first published in 1893 and was printed at the Times of Ceylon Press. Since then the magazine was published till the 1970s by the school press, edited by boys at the school. Its publication resumed once again in 1993 and has continued since.<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/000917/plus11.html A royal magazine]</ref>

''The Royalist'' is the school paper that is published every quarter.

==Cadet Contingent==
The '''Royal College Cadet Corps''' is the oldest school [[National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)|cadet contingent]] in Sri Lanka. It was the first cadet battalion to be formed in a school in [[Ceylon]] in 1881, attached to the [[Ceylon Light Infantry]]. Later named the '''Royal College Volunteer Corps''', it was attached to the [[Ceylon Defence Force|Ceylon Volunteers]] by the Volunteer Gazette of 1905. 1979 a Senior Cadet Band Platoon was added and in 2007 Royal was one of two schools to establish the first Air Force Cadet platoons in the country.

==Principals and Head Masters==
Following is a list of past [[Principal]]s and [[Head master|Head Master]]s of the Colombo Academy & the Royal College Colombo;

===Head Masters===
{|border="2" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-bgcolor="#f7f7f7"
!Name
!Entered Office
!Departed Office
|-
|[[The Reverend|Rev.]] J.H. Marsh (Snr), [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|MA]]([[University of Edinburgh|Edin]])
|<center>1835</center>
|<center>1838</center>
|-
|J. Brooke H. Bailey (acting)
|<center>1839</center>
|<center>1842</center>
|-
|[[The Reverend|Rev.]] A. Kessen
|<center>1842</center>
|<center>1842</center>
|-
|}

===Principals===
{|border="2" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-bgcolor="#f7f7f7"
!Name
!Entered Office
!Departed Office
|-
|J.F. Haslam, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[Cantab]])
|<center>1839</center>
|<center>1840</center>
|-
|[[The Reverend|Rev.]] [[Dr]] Barcroft Boake, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[University of Dublin|Dublin]]), [[Doctor of Divinity|DD]]([[University of Dublin|Dublin]])
|<center>1842</center>
|<center>1870</center>
|-
| George Todd, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[Oxon]]), ISO
|<center>1871</center>
|<center>1878</center>
|-
|J.B. Cull, [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)|MA]]([[Oxon]])
|<center>1878</center>
|<center>1890</center>
|-
|J.H. Marsh (Jnr), [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|MA]]([[University of Edinburgh|Edin]])
|<center>1890</center>
|<center>1892</center>
|-
|[[John Harward|J.H. Harward]], [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)|MA]]([[Oxon]])
|<center>1892</center>
|<center>1902</center>
|-
|[[Charles Hartley (Educationist)|C. Hartley]], [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)|MA]]([[Cantab]])
|<center>1903</center>
|<center>1919</center>
|-
|[[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] H.L. Reed, [[Military Cross|MC]], [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[Cantab]])
|<center>1920</center>
|<center>1932</center>
|-
|L.H.W. Sampson, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[Oxon]]), [[FRGS]]
|<center>1932</center>
|<center>1938</center>
|-
|E.L. Bradby, [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)|MA]]([[Oxon]])
|<center>1939</center>
|<center>1945</center>
|-
|J.C.A. Corea, [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|MA]]([[University of London|Lond]]), [[Diploma of Education|DipEd]]([[Cantab]])
|<center>1946</center>
|<center>1953</center>
|-
|D.K.G. de Silva, [[BSc]]([[University of London|Lond]]), [[Diploma of Education|DipEd]](Cey)
|<center>1954</center>
|<center>1966</center>
|-
|B.G. Premaratne, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[University of London|Lond]]), [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|MA]](NY TTC)
|<center>1967</center>
|<center>1971</center>
|-
|D.G. Welikala, [[BSc]]([[University of London|Lond]])
|<center>1971</center>
|<center>1972</center>
|-
|D.J.N. Seneviratne, [[BSc]]([[University of London|Lond]]), [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|MA]]([[Columbia University|Colombia]]), F.G.TRD, Cert(History)([[University of Ceylon|Cey]])
|<center>1972</center>
|<center>1972</center>
|-
|L.D.H. Peiris, [[BSc]]([[University of London|Lond]]), [[Diploma of Education|DipEd]]([[University of Ceylon|Cey]])
|<center>1972</center>
|<center>1980</center>
|-
|C.T.M. Fernando, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[University of London|Lond]]), [[Certificate in Education|CertEd]]([[University of Ceylon|Cey]]), Cert Ed. Adm.([[University of Edinburgh|Edin]])
|<center>1981</center>
|<center>1986</center>
|-
|B. Suriyaarachchi, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[University of Ceylon|Cey]]), [[Diploma of Education|DipEd]]
|<center>1986</center>
|<center>1994</center>
|-
|S.H. Kumarasinghe, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[University of Ceylon|Cey]]), [[Diploma of Education|DipEd]]
|<center>1994</center>
|<center>1997</center>
|-
|H.L.B. Gomes, [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]([[University of Peradeniya|Pera]]), [[Diploma of Education|DipEd]], Cert Ed. Mgt.
|<center>1997</center>
|<center>2003</center>
|-
|H.A. Upali Gunasekera, [[BSc]]([[University of Peradeniya|Pera]]), [[Diploma of Education|DipEd]]
|<center>2003</center>
|<center>To date</center>
|-
|}

==Hostel Wardens==
* S. Perimpanayagam (Headmaster of ''Glendale'')
* Bernard Anghie
* Cecil Belleth
* W. Jinadasa
* E. Amerasekera
* V. H. Nanayakkara
* S.Kadiragamanathan
* R L Senanayaka
* K. H. Amaradasa
* Aruna De Silva

==Notable Masters==
*[[Andrew Nicholl]] R.H.A.
*[[Regi Siriwardena]]
*[[R. I. T. Alles]]
*[[Lionel Ranwala]]
*P. Saravanamuttu, [[Ceylon Civil Service|CCS]]<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/000528/plus10.html He gave of his best, but died a disillusioned man]</ref>
* Vijitha Weerasinghe<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/070916/News/news00024.html A great teacher and concerned human being]</ref>
*[[Raja Alwis]]
*[[Professor]] William Norman, [[Chemical Society|FCS]], [[Society of Chemical Industry|MSCI]] <ref>[http://www.open.ac.uk/ou5/Arts/chemists/person.cfm?SearchID=3095 Biographical Database of the British Chemical Community, 1880-1970]</ref>
*[[Brevet|Bvt.]] [[Lt. Colonel]] M.K.J. Cantlay, [[ED]], [[JP]]
* [[Major]] Harold Samaraweera, [[ED]]<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/041107/plus/appreciation.html Final salute to a much-loved teacher]</ref>
* B. St. E de Bruin
* E.C. Gunasekera
* V. H. Nanayakkara
* M. B. H. Wariyapola
* V. Arasaeathnam
* M.T Thambapillai
* M.S.H. Cooray
* W.A Wickramasena
* Ranjith Senanayake
* H.M.Dayaratne
* Rev.Medagama Dammananda Thero

==Prefects==
In addition to the masters, the following four categories of senior boys are entitled to exercise school discipline. Boys who belong to any of three categories of prefects, are entitled to wear a silver college crest on their uniform and dress in an all white uniform.
*'''Senior Prefect:''', the most senior prefectorial group, who makes up the Prefects Council. Selected on academic, sport and co-curricular activity achievements, they are appointed on a probationary basis after completing the final exams at school ([[Advanced Level (SL)|GCE Advanced Level]]). Of these only a handful are appointed as Senior Prefects. Since they have completed the final exams there are in fact older than any of the other students and effectively stay an extra year at school, their disciplinary powers extend to all students of the school. From amongst the Senior Prefects are chosen the ''Head Prefect'' to lead all prefects of the college and the Prefects' Top Board, which consists of the Head Prefect (HP), the Senior Deputy Head Prefect (SDHP) and three or four Deputy Head Prefects (DHP). Notable ex-senior prefects include [[Junius Jayawardene|J.R. Jayawardene]], [[D. S. Attygalle|Sepala Attygalle]], [[Ranjan Madugalle]], [[Neville Kanakeratne]],[[Major Genaral.Wijaya Wimalaratne]].
*'''Steward:''' selected from students in grade 12, assist the senior prefects to exercise discipline in ''Upper School'' (grades 10, 11).
*'''Junior Prefect:''' selected from students in grade 9 (grade 8, until 1998), their disciplinary powers are limited to the students of ''Middle School'' (grades 6, 7, 8 & 9).
*'''Primary Prefect:''' selected from students in grade 5, their disciplinary powers are limited to the students of the ''Primary School'' (grades 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).
<ref>[http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/06/01/mag03.asp Devotion and sacrifice: secret of success, Head Prefect of Royal college speaks of his challenging school career]</ref>

==Old Royalists==
''Main Article: List of [[List of Royal College alumni (Old Royalists)|Old Royalists]]''
[[File:Sir John Kotelawala.jpg|100px|right|thumb|upright|Prime Minister Sir John Kotalawela]]
[[Image:J R Jayewardene.jpg|150px|thumb|left|upright|President J. R. Jayewardene]]

Royal College Colombo has many notable alumni, who are known as '''Old Royalists'''. The school has produced the first [[President of Sri Lanka|Executive President of Sri Lanka]] [[J. R. Jayewardene]]; a [[President of the Maldives]] [[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]]; the last [[List of Sultans of the Maldives|Sultan of the Maldives]] [[Muhammad Fareed Didi]] and also three [[Prime Minister of Sri Lanka|Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka]], including [[General]] [[John Lionel Kotalawela|Sir John Kotalawela]] and [[Ranil Wickremasinghe]].

Many of the prominent leaders of the [[Sri Lankan independence struggle|independence movement]] in the early twentieth century including [[Anagarika Dharmapala]], [[E.W.Perera]], [[James Peiris|Sir James Peiris]]' [[Ponnambalam Arunachalam|Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam]], [[Ponnambalam Ramanathan|Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan]] and [[Charles Alwis Hewavitharana|C.A. Hewavitharne]] were educated at the ''Colombo Academy''. The school also accounts for a large number of post & pre-independence legislators, ministers.

Among the school's alumni are many distinguished civil servants, diplomats, academics, scientists and writers. These include [[Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe|Shirley Amerasinghe]] ([[President of the United Nations General Assembly]]), [[Gamani Corea]] ([[Secretary-General]] of the [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTD]]), [[Christopher Weeramantry]] (Judge of the [[International Court of Justice]]), [[Nicholas Attygalle|Sir Nicholas Attygalle]] ([[Vice Chancellor]] of [[University of Ceylon]]), [[V. K. Samaranayake]] (Founder of [[University of Colombo School of Computing]]), [[Mohan Munasinghe]] (Vice President of the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change|IPCC]])

==War Memorial==



Situated in front of the entrance to the main hall, this is a memorial to the Old Royalists dead of the two World Wars and the Sri Lankan civil war. War memorial occupies a strategic position directly in front of the school's main building. Another memorial plaque is displayed in the entry way to the [[Navarangahala]] bearing the names of 47 Old Royalists who died in the civil war.<ref>[http://www.island.lk/2009/06/30/features7.html Royal college salutes the Royalist war heroes, by Commodore Shemal Fernando, RSP, USP, MSc, psc, SLN]</ref>

==The Royal College Union==
[[Image:RCU log.JPG|right|75px|]]
The '''Royal College Union''' ('''RCU''') is the [[alumnus|alumni]] society (old boys association) for the college and was founded in 1891 and as such it is the oldest such alumni society in Sri Lanka. The Royal College Union was set up to further the interests of the College and its past and present members, and to keep former pupils in touch with each other and with the school. Annually the RCU organizes many events including the [[Royal-Thomian]] and carry out development projects for the college.

==Photo Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Royal College Main Hall.jpg|Interior of the Royal College Main Hall
Image:RC quadrangle.jpg|The Quadrangle
Image:RC Building 1.jpg|The oldest building in school, the former hostel now houses the Grade 7 section
Image:RC principle's bungalow.jpg|The Principals's [[bungalow]]
Image:RC maingate.jpg|The ''Boake Gates'', adorn with the pre-1954 crest
Image:RC 003.JPG|Tennis courts next to the West Wing and the Grade 10 section building
Image:RC JR pav.jpg|The J.R. Jayawardene Pavilion at the main cricket grounds
Image:Navarangahla1.jpg|[[Navarangahala]]
</gallery>

==Royal viewed using Google Earth==
<gallery>
Image:Royal sat1.JPG|
Image:Royal sat2.JPG|
Image:Royal-sat3.JPG|
Image:Royal sat4.JPG|
</gallery>

==Royal College in Fiction==
*In the last part of [[Carl Muller]]'s trilogy '''Once Upon a Tender Time''', the central character Carlaboy von Bloss of the final story studies at Royal.<ref>[http://www.nation.lk/2008/02/03/special6.htm Sir Christopher Ondaatje looks back at the importance of Carl Muller’s Trilogy]</ref>

==Trivia==
*On the [[May 22]], [[1972]] the [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|House of Representatives]] of the [[Dominion of Ceylon]] met at the ''Royal Primary School Hall'' (now known as the [[Navarangahala]]) to finalized and approved the [[Republic]] [[Constitution]], thereby proclaimed establishment of the [[Republic of Sri Lanka]].
*During construction of the school's new building it was hit by an aircraft that was trying the establish the record for the first flight over Ceylon in November 1911.<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/000102/sup4.html Conquering the skies]</ref>

==See also==
*[[School of Our Fathers]]
*[[List of Royal College alumni (Old Royalists)|Old Royalists]]
*[[Royal Preparatory School]]
*[[Royal-Thomian rivalry]]
*[[Royal-Thomian|The Royal-Thomian]]
*[[Bradby Shield Encounter]]
*[[Royal Thomian Regatta]]
*[[Navarangahala]]
*[[Education in Sri Lanka]]
*[[National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)|National Cadet Corps]]
*[[Sri Lanka Light Infantry]]

==Bibliography==
*Perera, S.S., ''History of Royal College''
*Seneviratne, D.L., ''The Royal College "School of our Fathers"'' (Colombo, Lake House)

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links and sources==
;Official
*[http://www.royalcollege.lk/ Royal College]
*[http://www.inforoyal.com/ Royal College Student Information]

;Alumni
*[http://www.rcu.lk/ Royal College Union]

;Sports
*[http://www.royalcollegerowing.org/index.htm Royal College Rowing Club]

;Student Society
*[http://www.rcrconline.net/ Royal College Radio Club Website]
*[http://www.fmroyal.info/ FMRoyal Website (The Official Radio Station of Royal College)]
*[http://www.murc.info/ Media Unit of Royal College]
*[http://www.leroyale.tv/ Youtube channel of Royal College]
*[http://rclra.net/ Royal College Library Readers Association]

[[Category:Royal College, Colombo|*]]
[[Category:Royal Colleges|Royal College Colombo]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1835]]
[[Category:Schools in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Schools in Colombo]]
[[Category:Public schools in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Boys' schools in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Schools with a Cadet Corps]]
[[Category:Colombo]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Colombo]]

[[ja:ロイヤル・コロンボ大学]]
[[ta:கொழும்பு வேத்தியர் கல்லூரி]]

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Royal College, Colombo