Tale of two Institutions – Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
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Front view of school
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Grounds with Pavilion
Merchant Taylors’ School, London
Merchant Taylors’ School, one of the leading boys’ school in England was established in central London in 1561 and moved to the present location in the Moor Park region in 1933. It was founded by Mr. Thomas White. It stands on 285 acres of land with 10 cricket pitches. The school colours are Black and Gold and the motto is “Concordia Parvae Res Crescunt”.
Royal College Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Aerial view of school
Grounds with pavilion
Royal College which is the premier government boys’ school in Sri Lanka, was started in central Colombo in 1835 and moved to the present location in Cinnamon Gardens in 1923. It was founded by Rev. Joseph Marsh. It stands on 37 acres of land with three cricket grounds. The school colours are Blue and Gold and the mottos are “Floreat” and “Disce Aut Discade”.
One may ask about the link between these two. The answer lies on one person, Major H.L. Reed who was a student in one and principal in the other, perhaps the best principal of Royal College Colombo who had moulded the school in the lines of his alma mater. He was instrumental in introducing many things including lyrics and music for college song, system of houses and prefects, colours for sports, pavilion and the college crest. With his guidance Royal College became the second school in the world after Merchant Taylors School, for the publication of the history of the school, researched and written by the students of that time. Coincidentally in 2013, Merchant Taylors School hosted the Silver Jubilee Festival of Cricket of Srilanka OBAs, when the president of that organisation was an old boy of Royal College.
