In 1881 the Boys Brigade was initiated by the then principal Mr. John B. Cull. The very reason to organize a group of this kind was to improve discipline among students by using drilling. This initial step of the cadet movement was initiated in Royal College Colombo and then gradually introduced to the whole country. This atmosphere paved the way for a cadet band at Royal College in 1979, headed by Sergeant R.K.G.Yahampath. The first officer in charge was Lt.R.P.M.Gamage. The Royal College Cadet Band has faced many challenges and hardships in achieving its current position in the school band arena. They have represented the school at several national-level ceremonies, guard of honors, and annual competition camps. The RCCB won first place in the annual band competition held in 1983 at the Ananda Shasthralaya, Kotte scoring 75 points. W.O.II Sirisena H.A.J, who won the Best Band Sergeant title at this competition, led the band. The RCCB maintained its victorious position throughout the years, as it received the
Best Performance Award (later renamed the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield in 1985) at the Inter Battalion Competition for the second time in 1985. The band represented the school in this competition, and W.O.II Samaraweera S.M.A.P. headed it. In 1987 the College cadet band commanded by W.O.II Peiris G.V.U.A.C. won the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield for the third time. The Annual Band Competition Camp and other activities of RCCB were interrupted by the political disturbances that prevailed in the country in the late eighties. This untimely silence caused the loss of some of our familiar titles at the camps held in 1990 and 1991. The year 1991 was a turning point for the RCCB. Sergeant De Alwis D.D.L.P was not fortunate enough to complete his term, and the early termination of his leadership led to the reconstruction of the band from the beginning. Sergeant Hewage C., appointed as the new leader, completed the mission. During this year, Mr. Harsha Hettiarachchi became the Master-in-charge of the Cadet Band. There was no Officer-in-charge for the platoon for the next few years. At the Annual Band Competition held in 1992 under the leadership of Sergeant Wadusinghearachchi C., the band placed as the first runner-up for the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield. This victory marked the start of a victorious future for the RCCB as the band continued its winning performances in several prestigious band competitions. In 1993, the band, captained by Sergeant Jayarathne B.D.T.D., won the Most Outstanding Band of the Country award at the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield competition. The RCCB continued to live up to the expected standards as it won the award for the most Outstanding Band of the Country, for the fifth consecutive year in 1994, under the strong leadership of Sergeant Pallewatta P.G.D.B. In 1995, sergeant Jayakody S.V. won the Best Band Sergeant title and was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Independence Day Celebrations of Bangladesh. The Cadet band regained the Most Outstanding Band of the Country award for the 6th time, and for the 3rd consecutive year, they won the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield. In 1996 the Royal College Cadet Band set a record at the National Cadet Corps by winning the Most Outstanding Band of the Country for the 4th consecutive time. It was also the 7th occasion that the band, led by Sergeant Bomiriya N.D., had won the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield. He also was qualified to represent Sri Lanka at the Heroes Day Camp held in Bangladesh in 1997. In 1997 RCCB faced a slight drawback from their familiar achievements, but it never affected their morale. The band restored its position by placing runners-up at the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield. Sergeant Soorasena W.D.T.C. led the band during that year. Past achievements undoubtedly strengthen us. Their glorious titles inspired them to look forward with a positive vision. In 1999 the RCCB emerged as the winners of Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield, under the leadership of Sergeant Wathawanawithana S.D. In 2001 & 2002, they emerged the runners-up awards at the Annual Competition Camp after a close contest. Sergeants Jayasinghe T.I. in 2001, and Bamunusinghe B.A.S.D. in 2002, led the respective bands. After minor setbacks in 2003 and 2004, the RCCB rose in 2005, under Sergeant Dissanayake D.M.P.M., as the band returned as the runners-up of the Gen.T.I.Weeratunga Challenge shield and the Sergeant won the title for Best Drum Major. Sergeant Arachchige P.C.K led the Cadet Band in 2008 and won the titles of Best Band and Best Drum major. The RCCB won the championship for the first time since 1999, and Sergeant Arachchige P.C.K. received a promotion to Senior Under Officer at the camp. Sergeant Perera S.R. and Sergeant Chandrasiri J.P.I.N. led the band to emerge runners-up at the Gen.T.I.Weeratunga Challenge Shield during the years 2009 and 2010. In 2011, the band platoon started a new chapter in its rich history. They won the “Nidahasa – All island Outdoor band competition” (organized by the Presidential Secretariat and Government Media Unit in celebration of the president’s secondment and birthday) and the ISIC-Young Drums All-Island band competition (organized by the Ministry of Education and ISIC). Also, the RCCB was the best band in the 3rd battalion of NCC. They were the 1st runner-up at the Vivace Brass Indoor band competition and the best cadet band Maj. Gen. GBW Jayasundara Challenge Trophy. After a tight contest, they emerged 1st place in the Music and Drill Competition at the Hermann Loos/ De Zoysa Annual band assessment camp. Sergeant Peiris K.G.H.S., who led the band that year, represented Sri Lanka at the National Victory Day Camp and parade in Dhaka. Also, he led the National Cadet Corps Mass Band at the National Independence Day parade in 2012 and received a promotion to Senior Under Officer. In 2012, the cadet band won the Western Province Band Competition organized by the Ministry of Education. And they were the recipients of the Maj. Gen. G.B.W. Jayasundara Trophy, awarded to the best western Cadet band for the 10th time in history. They also emerged 1st in the Music and Drill Competition at the Hermann Loos/De Zoysa Annual Band Assessment Camp for the 5th consecutive year. In 2014 they won the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield and the Dr.Premasiri Khemadasa Challenge trophy awarded for the best music. In the same year, they won the Western Province Band Competition and the All-Island Band Competition organized by the ministry of education. In 2016 the Cadet Band won the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield for the 12th time in history. In that competition, they scored 948 points out of 1000, breaking the record for highest marks obtained by a cadet band in the Music and Drill competition. In 2018, they won the shield and the Dr.Premasiri Khemadasa Challenge Trophy by becoming the All-Island champions. In that competition, Sergeant Pingewatta. P.G.E.D.B won the Best Drum Major prize. In the same year, Company Sergeant Major Gunawardana V.C. was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major and became the 1st Regimental Sergeant Major of the Royal College Cadet Band. He represented Sri Lanka on the Republic day of India. In 2019 CSM Liyanage H.S.K. was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major of the National Cadet Corps by becoming 2nd cadet in the RCCB history to attain this position. He represented Sri Lanka at the National Heroes day of Nepal.