Royal College, Colombo

2010-09-25T11:59:56Z

202.129.235.3: Undid revision 386919864 by 112.135.94.123 (talk)

{{coord|6|54|16|N|79|51|40|E|type:city |display=title}}
{{Infobox School
|name = Rajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya Colombo வேத்தியர் கல்லூரி)රාජකීය විද්‍යාලය
|image = Royal College Colombo shield.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 (UK)|Public]]
|affiliation =
|grades = Class 1 - 13
|president =
|principal = Upali Gunasekara
|head_label =
|head of school =
|dean =
|faculty =
|staff =
|enrollment = 8000
|gender = Boys
|lower_age = 6
|upper_age = 19
|free_label_2 =
|free_2 =
|colours = Blue and 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 Colombo''' (commonly known as '''[[Royal College]]''', '''Rajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya''', '''Rajakeeya Vidyalaya''', வேத்தியர் கல்லூரி), රාජකීය විද්‍යාලය or simply as '''Royal''') is a prestigious school that was founded in January 1835. It is the leading [[Public school (UK)|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 [[selective school|selective entry]] [[National school (Sri Lanka)|National School]], as such it is funded by the central government as opposed to the provincial council providing both primary and secondary education. In 1950 due to high demand not being able to accommodated students of [[Royal Preparatory School|Royal College Preparatory School]] who could not gain admission to [[Royal College Colombo | Rajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya]] a new school named Senior Government School (currently known as [[Thurstan College]]) was established on the adjoining land closer to [[Rajakeeya Mawatha]] in wealthy and affluent high class residential area of Kurunduwatte (commonly known as [[Cinnamon Gardens]]) of Colombo 7. Royal College is often referred to as the ''[[Eton College|Eton]] of Sri Lanka''<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8500520.stm Sri Lanka's 'Eton' celebrates its 175th birthday], [[BBC News]]</ref> and it was selected as ''one of best innovative colleges in the world'' by Microsoft in 2009.<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/091108/News/nws_19.html Microsoft puts Royal College among world’s most innovative schools]</ref>

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

== Overview ==
Situated in a quiet residential suburb of Colombo known as the [[Cinnamon Gardens]], it occupies an area of 34 acres along the [[Rajakeeya Mawatha‎]]. 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: 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 known as the Headmaster/Headmistress). The college educates close to 9100 students in both secondary and primary education. Administration of the college hostel is carried out by the Warden under supervision of the Principal and is assisted by a Sub-warden.

== History ==
[[File:Royal College Colombo main building.jpg|thumb|left|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 1835, as a private institution with 20 students, mainly from the [[upper class]] community situated at Hill Street, [[Pettah]]. In 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 gave 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.<ref>[http://www.moe.gov.lk/Education_his_1.3.html Structure of the Education System], Ministry of Education</ref> In 1836 the school was moved to San Sebastian Hill, [[Pettah, Sri Lanka|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 Calcutta]]. In 1865 the Morgan Committee of inquiry into education recommended that it be reorganized and that scholarships should be awarded to study in [[University of 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 [[Monarch of the United Kingdom|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.
[[File:UoC Math Dept.jpg|thumb|left|[[Old Royal College Building, University of Colombo|Old College Building]] (1911-1921), now the University of Colombo]]

On August 27, 1913 the school was moved to its [[Old Royal College Building, University of Colombo|new building]] at Thurstan Road (which is now the [[Old Royal College Building, University of Colombo|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 architecture|Victorian styled]] building on Reid Avenue, which it still occupies. This move was due to the suggestion made by a higher education committee in 1914, which suggested that Royal College should be converted into 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 onset of [[World War II]]. 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>

== Current status ==
Since its establishment the main medium of education 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 in which to conduct their studies.

The school is equipped with facilities such as [[lecture hall]]s, [[Laboratories|science]] and [[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 300 hostelers.

Sport plays a major part in Royal College's activities. The school's facilities include 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 and athletics grounds, tennis courts, indoor cricket nets and an international standard sports complex with its own rugby ground. The sports complex, built in 2000, a short distance from the college, hosts national and school sporting events all year round.

Admission to the school is very competitive as it is the most sort after school in the country with the highest applications for admission to grade 1 and highest marks for entrance via the [[Grade 5 Scholarship Examination|grade 5 scholarship examination]] and at the collegiate level.<ref>[http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/11/22/spe01.asp Royal College among world’s best schools: Royal remains supreme, by Samangie WETTIMUNY]</ref>

== College tradition ==
[[File:Royal College, Colombo motto.jpg|thumb|right|Royal College motto on top of the main building]]
The College motto is "[[Disce aut Discede]]", meaning "Learn or Depart" in [[Latin]]. The motto is associated with the high academic standard maintained at the school for over hundred and severity five years. First mentions of the motto appearer during the tenor of Principal Todd (1871-1878). "Floreat", meaning "Flourish" also in Latin has been a motto associated with school since the founding of the ''Colombo Academy'' in 1836. Derived from "Floreat Etona", the motto of [[Eton College]] on which the academy was modeled on at its formation. Although the school had affiliations with the Anglican Church, it is a [[Secular education|secular school]] with students of all faiths admitted.

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

In 1968, a shorter version of the college song in Sinhala was 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 sung at the end of the school day.

== Houses ==
The students are divided into five [[House system|Houses]]. Formally four houses were established in 1918 by Principal Hartley with the names Cinnamon Gardens, Bambalapitiya North & South and Colpetty. They were renamed in 1921 with names are derived from past headmasters and principals of the college by Principal Major H. L Reed. In 1970 the fifth house was established in memory of Principal Reed. The houses are lead by House Captains, competing in all major games to win the inter-house games and house colours are awarded winners. The house are;

; Hartley House
* Colours :Pink & Blue
* Established :1918

; Harward House
* Colours :Pink & Grey
* Established :1918

; Marsh House
* Colours :Pink & White
* Established :1918

; Boake House
* Colours :Red & Black
* Established :1918

; Reed House
* Colours :Red & White
* Established :1970

== Awards ==
There are 165 endowed prizes and awards. The College Main Hall carries the names of those students who have won the Panel Prizes. The most coveted prize at 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 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
|-
| [[Edward Brandis Denham|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 and sports scholarships ===
* [[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

=== Endowments ===
{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}
* Albert Edirisinghe Endowment
* Gamini Edirisinghe Endowment
* A C Soysa Memorial Endowment
* A S Wimalakirthi Memorial Endowment
* Capt Panduka Dharmapriya Wijesinghe Memorial Endowment
* Clarence Amerasinghe Memorial Endowment
* Dias Memorial Endowment
* D B I P S Siriwardhane Memorial Award
* Dr Malin Sugathapala Memorial Endowment
* Dr L Dissanayake Memorial Endowment
* E C Gunasekera Memorial Endowment
* H J Wijesinghe Memorial Endowment
* Herman E Peiris Memorial Endowment
* Junji Ito Memorial Endowment
* Lt Col M K J Cantlay Memorial Endowment

{{col-3}}
* Major L V & Mrs Rhoda Gooneratne Memorial Endowment (English)
* Major L V & Mrs Rhoda Gooneratne Memorial Endowment (Snr Cadet)
* M T Thambapillai Memorial Endowment
* Pathinayaka Siri Memorial Endowment
* Pilot Officer Ranjit Fernando Jr Memorial Endowment
* Prof K N Seneviratne Memorial Endowment
* Reed Memorial Endowment
* Sarath Kodagoda Endowment
* S F De Silva Memorial Endowment
* [[Razik Fareed|Sir Razik Fareed]] Memorial Endowment
* T M Weerasinghe Memorial Endowment
* Tirimanne Memorial Endowment
* Wilson Family Memorial Endowment
* Yasawathie Edirisinghe Memorial Endowment

{{col-end}}

== Sports ==
Sport is a major part of Royal College, with over 21 different sports played. Taking center stage of the annual sporting calender are the [[Royal-Thomian]] (Big Match), the [[Bradby Shield Encounter|Bradby]] and the [[Royal Thomian Regatta|Regatta]].

Other sports played at Royal include;
{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}
* Athletics
* Archery
* Badminton
* Baseball
* Basketball
* Boxing
* Chess
* Cricket

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

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

{{col-end}}

=== Royal-Thomian ===
[[File:The RC flag at the Royal-Thomian.jpg|thumb|right|A Royal flag at the 128th Royal Thomian]]
{{main|Royal-Thomian}}
Cricket has been played at the school since 1838. 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 preceded by the 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. Rugby was introduced at Royal in 1916, and the first historic match against Trinity was played in 1920. The Bradby Shield 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 in Kandy and the other 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 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 the first leg held in Colombo and 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 with an aggregate of 53 - 27.

=== Royal-Thomian Regatta ===
[[File:Senior Pairs 2007.JPG|thumb|right|Royal (nearside) winning the Junior Pairs 2007 in a 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 began in 1962. 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. 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 history. The Royal College Crew created records in all six events including a 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}}
The college magazine and the library started in 1837. Today there are over 60 clubs and societies.

Some of these are;
{{col-begin}}

{{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}}
* Social Services League
* Seylan Bank
* [[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#The Royal College Sinhala Drama Society|Sinhala Drama Society]]
* Sinhala Language and Literary Unit
* [[List of Clubs and Societies of Royal College, Colombo#Sinhala Oratory and Debating Society|Sinhala Oratory and Debating Society]]
* SIPSA
* 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 dates 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. The magazine was published till the 1970s by the school press, edited by boys at the school. Its publication resumed in 1993 and has continued since.<ref>[http://royalcollegemagazine.com/ Royal College Magazine Online Website]</ref><ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/000917/plus11.html A royal magazine]</ref>

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

== Cadet Contingent ==
[[File:Royal College Colombo Cadet Corps.jpg|thumb|right|The Royal College Volunteer Corps]]
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.

Both the Cadet Contingent and Senior Cadet Band Platoon have performed well, gaining claim as two of the finest units in the country. Over the years the Cadet Contingent has won the '''''Hermanloose Trophy''''' on many years annually and Senior Cadet Band Platoon has won the '''''Lt.Gen. T.I. Weerathunga Trophy''''' ten times.

== Principals and Head Masters ==
Following is a list of past [[Dean (education)|Principals]] and [[Head master|Head Masters]] of the Colombo Academy and 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.]] [[Doctor (title)|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>
|-
|[[Deshabandu]] 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>
|-
|}

== Prefects ==
In addition to the masters, four categories of senior boys are entitled to exercise school discipline. Boys who belong to any of three categories of [[Prefect#Academic|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 head prefects include: [[J. R. Jayewardene]], [[Sepala Attygalle]], [[Ranjan Madugalle]].
* '''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]]''

Past pupils of Royal College Colombo are known as '''Old Royalists''', they include many distinguished figures. The school has produced the first [[President of Sri Lanka|Executive President of Sri Lanka]] [[J. R. Jayewardene]]; the longest serving [[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's alumni also 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]] (First Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) [[Vice Chancellor]]), [[V. K. Samaranayake]] (Founder of the [[University of Colombo School of Computing|UCSC]]), [[Mohan Munasinghe]] (Vice President of the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change|IPCC]]) & [[General]] [[Deshamanya]] [[D. S. Attygalle|Sepala Attygalle]] (First Sri Lankan [[4 star rank|Four-star General]]).

<center><gallery perrow=5>
File:Junius Richard Jayewardene.jpg| [[J. R. Jayewardene]]
File:John Kotelawala.jpg| [[John Lionel Kotalawela|Sir John Kotalawela]]
File:Anagariaka.jpg| [[Anagarika Dharmapala]]
File:Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam.jpg| [[Ponnambalam Arunachalam|Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam]]
</gallery></center>

== War Memorial ==
Situated in front of the entrance to the main hall, this is a memorial to the Old Royalists who died in the two [[World Wars]] and the [[Sri Lankan civil war]]. The war memorial is located 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 where killed in action 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 ==
[[File: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.

== Gallery ==
<center><gallery widths=105>
File:Royal College Main Hall.jpg|Interior of the Royal College Main Hall
File:RC quadrangle.jpg|The Quadrangle
File:RC Building 1.jpg|The oldest building in school, the former hostel now houses the Grade 7 section
File:RC principle's bungalow.jpg|The Principals's [[bungalow]]
File:RC maingate.jpg|The ''Boake Gates'', adorn with the pre-1954 crest
File:Royal College, Colombo year 10 building.jpg|Tennis courts next to the West Wing and the Grade 10 section building
File:RC JR pav.jpg|The J.R. Jayawardene Pavilion at the main cricket grounds
File:Navarangahla1.jpg|[[Navarangahala]]
</gallery></center>

== Royal and other Schools ==
Royal College's maintains a [[Royal-Thomian rivalry|century old rivalry]] with [[S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia]] as well as close ties with [[Trinity College, Kandy]]. Royal has long had a familial relationship with [[C.M.S. Ladies' College, Colombo]] : several families who chose to send their sons to Royal also chose to send their daughters to Ladies College, and many Old Royalists over the years have married alumni of [[C.M.S. Ladies' College, Colombo]].

In 1945, Minister of Education [[C. W. W. Kannangara]] began the establishment of [[Madhya Maha Vidyalaya|central colleges]] (Madhya Maha Vidhyala) as part of the ''Free Education'' policy to provide secondary education for the rural masses, he modeled these schools on the general structure of Royal College.

Although there are several schools in parts of the island that have adapted the name Royal College in the post-independence era; none have links to Royal College Colombo nor have been received formal permission to use the ''Royal'' prefix.

== In popular culture ==
* 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>

* In Nihal De Silva's novel '''The Giniralla Conspiracy''', a protagonist, Mithra studied at Royal College.

== Information ==
* 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 finalize and approve the [[Republic]] [[Constitution]], thereby proclaimed establishment of the [[Republic of Sri Lanka]].
* During construction of the school's [[Old Royal College Building, University of Colombo|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 ==
{{commons|Royal College Colombo}}
* [[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]]
* [[Royal Crown (Royal College Colombo)]]
* [[Navarangahala]]
* [[Rajakeeya Mawatha]]
* [[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]

;Publications
* [http://royalcollegemagazine.com/ Royal College Magazine]

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

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

;Student Society

* [http://www.royalscouts.com/ The official web site of the 42nd Colombo "Royal College" Scout Group]
* [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]
* [http://www.royaltamillit.com/ Royal College Tamil Literary 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]]
[[Category:Academic institutions formerly affiliated with the University of Calcutta]]
[[ja:ロイヤル・コロンボ大学]]
[[si:රාජකීය විද්‍යාලය]]
[[sv:Royal College Colombo]]
[[ta:கொழும்பு வேத்தியர் கல்லூரி]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Royal College, Colombo