Who will take home the T. Noel Fernando Memorial Trophy?

Royal College – Standing back row (from left): Thimesha Amarasena, Ishira Rambukwella, Lasindu Gamage, Waruna Hewamanne, Praveen Weerakkody, Kusal Kannangara, Kavinda Mathew, Hashen Weerakkody, Dehan Atapattu, Charin Wijetilleke, Jehan Hapugalle. Standing middle row (from left): Lasaru Kudaligama, Promod Rajaguru, Secretary Praveen Hapugalle, Sajid Ajmal, Prathap Perera, Amrith Fernando, Hashen Hettigoda, Avishka Jayaweera, Kaveen Rajapakse. Seated (from left): Mohammed Rifath (Assistant Coach), Inoka Wijendra (Teacher In Charge), Ahamed Aslam (Head Coach), Sarath Keerthisena (Vice Principal), Bilal Hassan (Captain), Upali Gunasekara (Principal), Keshan Ranasinghe (Vice Captain), Sudath Liyanagunwardena (Senior Games Master), Lahiru Herath, Kushal Abhayaratne (Assistant Coach)

S. Thomas’ College – Seated (from left): Kumara Rodrigo(MIC), Mark Maurice (Head Coach), Sisira de Silva (Director of Sports), Ramith Nanayakkara(Captain), Rev. Marc Billimoria (Warden), Amrith Peiris (Vice Captain), Kemil Peter (Secretary), Peter Christy (Assistant Coach), Anne Seneviratne (TIC). Standing first row (from left): Ashan Walpola, Chirath Dassanayake, Duvin de Mel, Saliya Gunasekara (Coloursman), Deshitha Hennayake, Senal Senevirathne, Sean Ratnayeke, Avinash Rajaguru, Bhanuka Rathnayake.  Standing second row (from left): Niran Warawita, Zev Pestonjee, Lakshan Sri Pragash, Pranishka Dias, Shamil Hemasinghe, Nisura de Silva, Navike Ediriwira, Suramba Serasinghe, Visura Silva, Yehan Abeysinghe.  Standing third row (from left): Manoj Devasudan, Nethpriya Mendis, Shailindra Jayasekara, Joyel Rajendran, Mirash Nazeem, Arjun Wikramanayake, Nilaksha Mendis, Wishmitha Peiris, Dharaka Peiris.  Standing fourth row (from left): Uvidu Premaratna, Sudeepa Peiris, Chahel Samarasinghe, Kaveen de Silva, Shimran Kuwailid

The oarsmen of Royal College and S. Thomas’ College will showcase their skills and technique as they battle to take home the T. Noel Fernando Memorial Trophy at the 46th Annual Royal-Thomian Regatta 2015.  

Being the oldest and longest running inter-school regatta in Sri Lanka, this annual rivalry between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College commenced in 1962 as the Royal-Thomian Boat Race. It evolved into the ‘regatta’ as we know it today in 1966 with two fours rowed by the traditional rivals. Royal College was led by L.A.W. Sirisena and the Thomian crew was led by C.N. Sirimanne. Royal College won the very first boat race in 1962 by one boat length and S. Thomas’ College went on to gain their first win in 1964 – beating Royal by three boat lengths.   

Royal College Colombo was the first school in Sri Lanka to start its own rowing programme in 1953 with the formation of the Royal College Rowing squad. The college’s first captain was Alavi Mohomed. Their first regatta was rowed at the Beira Lake against an all European B team of the Colombo Rowing Club in which the Royalist won the coxed fours. Soon after the Royalist went on to race with yet another all European team from the Madras Boat Club, which they won and the first ever colours for rowing were awarded. 

Today, the regatta comprises of 11 races – which include sculls, pairs and fours. The races are rowed over a distance of 1,000 yards at the Colombo Rowing Club and regarded as the most prestigious boat race in Sri Lanka; the race is rowed for the Boat Race Trophy – Senior Fours. The overall winner of the Regatta is awarded the T. Noel Fernando Memorial Trophy. 

The Royal-Thomian regatta is one of the most popular sporting events in the schools calendar and is eagerly anticipated by the present and old boys of the two schools and sports fans in general. An exciting competition is expected between the two traditional rivals as they have proven to be fierce competitors in the regattas rowed throughout the years. 

The Chief Guest will be Nalin Samarawickrama, a past oarsman of Royal College, Colombo. Samarawickrama captained Royal College Rowing in 1987 and is a five year coloursman. 

The races will start at 1 p.m. at the Colombo Rowing Club on 24 October.