The Lalith Athulathmudali Award for the Most Outstanding Royalist of the Year 2025 has been awarded to Aritha Alahakoon.

Aritha Alahakoon excelled academically, with a mint record being the Grade First in Middle, Upper Middle and A/L sections. He obtained 9As in O/L and 3As in A/L examinations, paving his way to enter the Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa. He is the recipient of the prestigious Turnour Scholar for the year 2022—the oldest prize in the Annual Prize Giving—for ranking Island 3rd in the G.C.E. O/L Examination and achieving the highest academic distinction at the College. He is a national level medal winner in Mathematics, Science and Nuclear Science Olympiads and an honourable mention recipient in Chemistry Olympiad. Winning more than 30 prizes including class, subject, special endowed and open memorial prizes at Annual Prize Givings of Royal College, he has set an unmistakable example of academic prowess.

Exhibiting astute sportsmanship, Aritha has represented Sri Lanka at Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships held in Chennai, India, and Islamabad, Pakistan. He is a nationally ranked squash player and a 2nd year National Coloursman. Being the captain of Royal College Squash Team B, he led the team to victory at All Island Inter-school Squash Championship 2024. He is a College Coloursman with Royal College Sports Merit Award and International Representations awarded multiple times.

Adding to College glory, he was part of groups that won 1st place in All Island Mixed Instrumental Orchestra and 1st place in Western Province English Singing Competition. He has placed first in prepared speeches, dictation and creative writing in many English and Sinhala Language Competitions, and represented the College in Inter-school Competitions. He won the Sir James Peiris Memorial Prize for best English Essay as well as the Harsha Panditha Gunawardene Memorial Prize for best Sinhala Essay.

He is a President’s Scout of the Royal College Scout Group.

Previously a Primary Prefect, a Junior Prefect, a Junior Steward and a Senior Steward, he now serves as a Senior Prefect, showcasing consistent commitment to the College. For his remarkable overall performance, he has been awarded the Best All-rounder Prizes in Grade 5, Grade 6 and Grade 11. He has proven himself as an exceptional combination of academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular excellence.