The historic “Battle of the Blues,” the Royal-Thomian Cricket Match, unfolds its 145th chapter at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from March 7th to 9th. As the oldest uninterrupted cricket series in Sri Lanka and the second longest in the world, this clash between Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia is not just a sporting event but a testament to rich traditions and fierce rivalries.
With Royal holding a narrow lead of 36 wins against S. Thomas’ 35, the Thomians are determined to level the series this time. The SSC grounds will witness a battle between Thomian batters and Royal bowlers, led by Mahith Perera, showcasing a formidable batting lineup, their main strength this school cricket season.
The historic significance of the Royal-Thomian extends beyond the cricket field, with illustrious figures from Sri Lanka’s political landscape having represented the two schools. The late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake played for S. Thomas’, while the first executive President of Sri Lanka, J.R. Jayawardena, donned the Royal colors. Notable political figures such as Sir John Kothalawala, Bradman Weerakoon, Eran Wickramaratne, and Ravi Karunanayake have also been part of the Royal cricket legacy.
National cricketing icons with ties to the Royal-Thomian include ICC Chief Referee Ranjan Madugalle, Anura Tennakoon, Micheal Tissera, Duleep Mendis, Mevan Pieris, Asantha de Mel, Jayantha Amarasinghe, and many more. The match referee, Manoj Mendis, and the late Upeka Fernando, former skippers of S. Thomas’, have also made significant contributions to Sri Lanka’s cricketing landscape.
The legacy continues with the present generation, with the likes of present Sri Lanka team manager Mahinda Halangoda, former Thomian paceman Aruna Gunawardena, and Nisal Fernando, notable products of S. Thomas’, representing the national team.
