Inaugurated on the 7th of December, 1997, the annual Colours Awarding Ceremony strives to celebrate and to honour the exceptional sportsmen that Royal College produces each year. While the awarding of College Colours dates back to the 1920’s during the regime of Principal Reed, prior to 1997 no such ceremony was held and the awarding took place at school assemblies.

The Colours Awarding Ceremony for the year 2015 took place on the 7th of April, 2016 at the ‘Navarangahala’. The Chief Guest was Col. Faiz ur Rahman who was the Boxing Captain for the year 1965. Col. Rahman has served in the College Games Council, the governing body for sports at Royal for over 15 years (7 years as the Secretary) and is currently a Vice President of the Royal College Union. Mr. Ajita Pasqual, Cricket Captain for the year 1973, 1st XV Rugby player from 1970 to 1972, and Donhorst Prize winner for the year 1972 graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. In addition, Former Principal Mr. S. H. Kumarasinghe during whose tenure the Colours Awarding Ceremony was initiated, honoured the occasion with his presence.

The guests were ushered through the Navarangahala Entrance Lobby which, for the night, had been transformed into a hall of fame. The College Anthem was performed by the Royal College Western Orchestra, adding to the grandeur of the event. The gathering was welcomed by the Principal, Mr. B. A. Abeyrathne.

The numerous trophies won throughout the year by the School’s sports teams were handed over to the Principal by the respective Captains, Vice Captains and Senior Players. Among the trophies presented were the Senenayake Challenge Shield and the Royal – Trinity Challenge Shield for Rugby Football (Bradby Shield), reunited after 20 years.

This year sportsmen from a total of 18 sports received College Colours. Merit Awards were awarded to the Air Cadet Wing, Cadet Band, Cadet Contingent and the College Scouting Troop.

The Special Awards presented at the Ceremony were as follows:

International Representation Awards

Rugger

  • Bhanuka Gamage
  • Shawket Lahir
  • Umesha Madushan
  • Nikhila Gunadheera
  • Ayesh Gallage

Cricket

  • Thiran Dhanapala
  • Chamika Karunaratne

Chess

  • Minul Doluweera

Diving

  • Abisheka Meegalla
  • Sahan Peiris
  • Dulanjan Fernando

Swimming

  • Ranjula Agalawatte
  • Ishara Abeyratne
  • Omira Lokuge

Table Tennis

  • Nimesh Ranchagoda
  • Virunaka Hendahewa

Cadetting

  • R. S. M. Kahaduwa H.S.K.
  • Sgt. Udayanga U.D.
  • Sgt. Zoysa K.D.S.

Squash

  • Rashendra Rajarathne
  • Ruweesha Jayawardena
  • Druvinka Perera
  • Heshan Balasooriya
  • Yukthi Napagoda
  • Methmal Wood
  • Sadeesha Rajapaksha

Maalyn Dias Scholarship for the Most Outstanding Emerging Sportsmen

  • Heshan Balasooriya
  • Abisheka Meegalla
  • Kavisha Rathnayake

R. A. B. A. Gunasekara Memorial Fund Awards

Athletics

  • Youngest Coloursman – Theekshana Tharuminda
  • Most Deserving Athlete – Mithun Mihiranga

Rugby Football

  • Youngest Coloursman – Sabith Feroze
  • Most Deserving Rugby Player – B. D. Umesha Madushan, Keshan Peiris

The Royal Crown

The Royal Crown which is presented to Coloursmen at Royal with excellent and pre-eminent contribution in a particular sport was presented this year to ten individuals

  • Akila Weerasinghe (Waterpolo)
  • Chandula Fernando (Swimming)
  • Bhanuka Gamage (Rugby Football)
  • Supun Warnakulasooriya (Rugby Football)
  • Shawket Lahir (Rugby Football)
  • B. D. Umesha Madushan (Rugby Football)
  • Ruweesha Jayawardena (Squash)
  • Rashendra Rajarathna (Squash)
  • Druvinka Perera (Squash)
  • Juliyan Gunasinghe (Basketball)

Entertainment acts by the Drama Society, Dancing Society and the Oriental Music Society added colour to the day’s proceedings. The event concluded with the Vote of Thanks read by the Head Prefect, Senith Abeyanayake.

Subsequently the first ever Fellowship Dinner for the College Coloursmen hosted by the Prefects’ Council took place at the College Main Hall. Speeches were presented by Secretary of the RCU Mr. Athula Munasinghe, the Principal and the Head Prefect, Senith Abeyanayake.