The Royal College Union celebrated its 125th Anniversary at a celebratory dinner

As part of the celebrations to mark the 125th Anniversary of the Royal College Union (RCU), a formal celebratory dinner took place on Sunday 17th, January 2016 at the Cinnamon Grand hotel. This gala event commenced with a cocktail reception at the Atrium and was followed by a sit down dinner at the Oak Room of the Cinnamon Grand hotel. This event launched the celebrations for the 125th anniversary of the Royal College Union which are being organized by special committees of RCU members. The event was held on the actual day when the RCU was established in 1891.

The evening commenced with pre-dinner cocktails followed by a sit-down dinner at which the school, its history and heritage was toasted and honoured. The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe an old boy of the school graced the occasion. Mahen Perera, Chairman Royal College Union 125th anniversary celebrations commenced proceedings by proposing a toast to the Head of State. This was following by a toast by Ranil de Silva, Chairman, Royal College Union 125th Anniversary Celebratory Dinner, who toasted absent friends. Deshamanya Ken Balendra then introduced the presenter Lorenz Pereira who proposed a toast to Royal College. The next toast was by Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe who toasted the Royal College Union on its 125th anniversary. B. A Abeyratne, Principal Royal College and Athula Munasinghe, Secretary, Royal College Union responded to the toasts. The evening was brought to a close with a speech by Sarinda Unamboowe.

This august event was attended by 500 former Royalists with their spouses and was the beginning to a series of events that would be held to mark this historic event.

Commenting on the successfully concluded dinner, Ranil de Silva, Chairman, Royal College Union 125th Anniversary Celebratory Dinner stated, “The evening was very special with great camaraderie and exceptional toasts that won the hearts of everyone who was present. It was a beautiful journey down memory lane. I am grateful to the Honourable Prime Minister for gracing the occasion and for his inspiring words. A very special thank to Mr. Lorenze Pereira for coming all the way from down under for the occasion and for brilliantly capturing them days. Sarinda Unambowe’s closing speech was very enjoyable and resonated with everyone in the room.” Mr. Mahen Perera, Chairman of the 125th anniversary celebrations stated “I am grateful to the Old boys and their spouses for making the night a very special and truly memorable occasion. A very special tribute to the 125th anniversary celebratory dinner committee for making every effort to ensure that the evening was truly special for every guest. I know that everyone will cherish this memory throughout their lifetime. I hope this is just the beginning of a series of events that would be held to mark this milestone of the RCU.”

The Royal College Union’ is one of the oldest school alumni associations in Sri Lanka. The RCU has continuously served the interests of the College as well as its large and diverse membership to ensure that the spirit of being a Royalist is kept alive in the hearts of every Royalist. The RCU has also facilitated the camaraderie of former Royalists since its inception in 1891, whilst helping with the organization of many important sporting events of the college such as the Royal-Thomian cricket encounter, the Bradby Shield matches, the Royal Thomian Regatta as well as national initiatives such as EDEX.”