TOAST FOR ROYAL COLLEGE AT THE BLUE AND GOLD BALL 2026 by Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. A warm welcome to you. I have been given this task of proposing the toast for Royal College at this Blue and Gold Ball tonight. As you are aware Royal College is the most prestigious educational institution in Srilanka. The fact that since independence politicians have been going round the country telling that they will build Royal Colleges in every district goes to prove my point. Royal had its life first awoke in a humble manner in 1835 in the back verandah of St. Paul’s church in Wolvendhal with only twenty students, then moved to Messenger street, San Sebastian and Thurstan Road, in the process undergoing name change from Hill street academy to Colombo academy and Queens college and finally settling down at the present location in 1924, where it now stands among vast complex of structures catering to hundreds of students. Royal had been the sought after school for Srilankan elite to send their sons to in the past and will continue to be the same in the future too. Royal had the distinction of having students not only from every ethnic, religious and social group but also from every part of the country. We old boys had the fortune of traversing this hallowed halls of learning and whenever students enter through the Boake gates for the first time to trace the path trod by their forefathers, they are destined to be groomed as future leaders of the country.
Whenever I attend the Blue and Gold Ball, I feel the nostalgia of Royal lingering in these venues. At the reception when I shandy my drinks, it reminds me of “Half Soda”. At the dining table when I shove food into my mouth, it reminds me of “Kate Pus”. At the dance floor, when I swing to music, it reminds me of “Pendulum”. For the benefit of younger old boys and guests, these were nicknames of masters who taught us at Royal, who were legends by themselves. We learnt the way beneath the sway of our teachers whom we respected, though many were given nicknames and few jeered. As a token of appreciation, sons of rich parents felicitated their teachers with presents. During our time, students used to come to school by various ways of transport: cars, busses, school vans, bicycles and those who lived near, walked it. We had school buses along Galle Road and High Level Road. I did not get the opportunity to travel in any one of them, but those who came by them used to tell us that they have an enjoyable time even during that brief journey. Whatever mode used, students came to school with the sole intention of getting values inculcated into them by this great institution. At Royal the motto was Disce aut discede which means learn or depart, but for most of us it was both learning and departing. Within the shade of our school, we not only learnt of books and men but also learnt to play the game. Royal had produced eminent people in the past who have excelled in their chosen field both in the country and abroad, thus bringing fame to the school and keeping its name inviolate.
Ladies and gentlemen, it was a pleasure for me to have extolled the virtue of Royal to this audience consisting of old boys who are loyal Royalists and our regular guests who are Royal loyalists. For us old boys, Royal is our cherished institution, it is in our hearts and minds, it is part of our body and soul. It is our duty as its loyal sons, not only to bear the torch, but also to repay the debts we owed to our old school. Let us with our lusty throats and heart as sound as oak, raise a cheer “floreat” for our Alma Mater. Now I call upon all the old Royalists to stand up and raise their glasses as a toast for Royal College. Thank you.
