Athletics was introduced to the Royal College in the year 1844 by conducting the first Athletics Meet at the College. At first the events were under 16 hurdles, pole vault, shot put and long jump. Other events like slow cycle race, throwing the cricket ball and tug-of-war were also parts of these meets. The sports meet was a red-letter day in the school calendar. The first recorded sports meet held in 1892 was sponsored by the Old Boys Union and took place on the grounds at St.Sebastian hill.

In 1919 Principal Charles Hartley introduced the Inter-House Athletics Championship Shield and he also organized an Inter-School Athletic Meet in 1907. It was called the Athletics Championship for the Ceylon Planters Association Cup.

It is worthy of mention that in 1925 at the Royal College Sports Meet, 3 boys jumped over 20 feet in the long jump event, which may have been a world record for secondary schools at that time.

Since then Royalist Athletes reached great heights in the sport at National and International level. The Royal College and S.Thomas’ College along with Trinity College organized the Triangular Athletic Championship in 2005. Later on, in 2015 the Old Royalist Athletic Club organized the Quadrangular Athletic Championship.