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.
Early Success and the Weerathunga Shield (1983–1987)
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.
A Period of Reconstruction (1988–1992)
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. 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.
Dominating the National Arena (1993–1999)
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 leadership of Sergeant Pallewatta P.G.D.B. In 1995, sergeant Jayakody S.V. won the Best Band Sergeant title and the Cadet band regained the Most Outstanding Band of the Country award for the 6th time. 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, led by Sergeant Bomiriya N.D. In 1999 the RCCB emerged as the winners of Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield, under the leadership of Sergeant Wathawanawithana S.D.
The Modern Era and Record-Breaking Feats (2001–2012)
In 2001 & 2002, they emerged the runners-up awards at the Annual Competition Camp. After minor setbacks in 2003 and 2004, the RCCB rose in 2005 under Sergeant Dissanayake D.M.P.M. as runners-up. Sergeant Arachchige P.C.K led the Cadet Band in 2008 and won the titles of Best Band and Best Drum major. In 2011, the band won the “Nidahasa – All island Outdoor band competition” and the ISIC-Young Drums All-Island band competition. In 2012, 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, and won the Western Province Band Competition.
Setting National Records (2014–Present)
In 2014 they won the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield and the Dr.Premasiri Khemadasa Challenge trophy for best music. In 2016 the Cadet Band won the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Shield for the 12th time, scoring 948 points out of 1000—breaking the record for the highest marks ever obtained by a cadet band in the Music and Drill competition. In 2018, they won the shield and the Dr.Premasiri Khemadasa Challenge Trophy again. Recent years have seen individual excellence with CSM Gunawardana V.C. (2018) and CSM Liyanage H.S.K. (2019) being promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major of the National Cadet Corps.