# Royal College Union

The Royal College Union (RCU) is the alumni association of the Royal College Colombo. Founded in 1891 as a society for alumni of the college, it is the oldest such alumni society in Sri Lanka. The Royal College Union was set up to further the interests of the college and its past and present members, and to keep former pupils in touch with each other and with the school. Annually the RCU organizes many sporting events including the Royal-Thomian, the Bradby Shield Encounter, the Royal Thomian Regatta as well as national initiatives such as EDEX and carry out development projects for the college, as well as manage and maintain much of the school's infurstutcure such as the Hostel, Royal College Sports Complex, the J.R. Jayawardene Sports Complex, RCU Skills Centre and the Swimming Pool.

## Governance

RCU is governed by the Royal College Union Council. The council consists of honorary officers — the President and Vice-Presidents. The ex officio post of President is held by the Principal of Royal College Colombo and Vice Presidents are distinguished Old Royalists who are appointed as patrons of the RCU. The officer posts of the council include Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Recorder. Therefore, the de facto head of the RCU is its Secretary.
The full membership of the RCU council is much larger, which includes trustees; past secretaries; board and committee members of ORGACO (Old Royalists Groups Associations & Clubs Organizers), EDEX, Management Boards, Clubs, RCU Trust, Age group members and appointed members.

### Council

The RCU Council is made up of members representing the RCU Trust, several Management Boards, clubs and age groups. These include;
* RCU Trust
* RCU Archives
* Old Royalists Groups Associations & Clubs Organizers (ORGACO)

#### Board of Management

* Swimming Pool
* J.R. Jayawardene Sports Complex
* Royal College Sports Complex
* Hostel Advisory & Management Board
* Career Guidance, Counselling & Skills Development Centre

#### Clubs

* Royal College Union Tennis Club
* Royal College Union Aquatic Club

#### Age groups

* Age Group Over 55
* Age Group 45 - 55
* Age Group 35 - 45
* Age Group 25 - 35
* Age Group Below 25

### Committees

* Finance Committee
* Games Council
* Rugby Matches Organising Committee
* Cricket Advisory & Management Committee
* Royal – Thomian cricket match Organising committee
* Royal -Thomian Old Boys Cricket Match Committee
* Athletics Advisory & Management committee
* Football Advisory & Management Committee
* Table Tennis Advisory & Management Committee
* Badminton Advisory & Management committee
* Boxing Advisory & Management Committee
* Baseball Advisory & Management Committee
* Rowing Advisory & Management Committee
* Loyalty Pledge Management Committee
* Merchandise Advisory & Management Committee
* Membership Development & Services Committee
* School Admission Advisory & Management Committee
* Constitutional Affairs Advisory Committee
* ICT (Computing) Advisory & Management Committee
* RCU Web Committee
* Dance Organising Committee
* Committee for Commemoration of Old Royalists Killed in Action (Com CORK)
* Constitutional Affairs & Legal Advisory Committee
* EDEX Advisory & Management Committee
* Public Relations & Publicity Advisory & Management Committee
* Volleyball Advisory & Management Committee

## RCU secretaries

List of secretaries;
* Sir James Peiris, JP (1891–1893)
* F.M. De Saram (1893–1903)
* Justice E. W. Jayewardene, KC (1903–1908)
* Colonel T. G. Jayewardene, JP, CLI (1908–1915)
* B.F. De Silva (1915–1921)
* L.J.M Pieris (1921–1923)
* F.C.W. Vangeyzel (1923–1925)
* L.J.M Pieris (1925–1926)
* F.C.W. Vangeyzel (1926–1933)
* J. R. Jayawardene (1933–1938)
* A.S. Mohammed (1936–1938)
* Colonel F. C. de Saram, OBE, CA (1938–1941)
* C. E. Jayewardene (1941–1942)
* G.R.J. De Soysa (1942–1945)
* L.G. Weeramantry (1945–1949)
* Mahesa Ratnam (1949–1950)
* S.A. Dissanayake (1950–1953)
* E.L.P. Mendis (1953–1955)
* M. Mohideen (1955–1961)
* J.W. Subasinghe (1961–1964)
* L.W. Modnage (1964–1969)
* Nihal Seneviratne (1969–1971)
* Deshamanya Ken Balendra (1971–1973)
* M. Kanagashingham (1973–1981)
* C.R. Kuruppu (1981–1982)
* Gamini Edirisinghe (1986–1991)
* Asoka Jayasinghe (1991–1995)
* Uddaka Tennakoon (1995–1999)
* Mahen Perera (1999–2001)
* Nimal Dias Jayasinha (2001–2003)
* Captain Ajith Peiris (2003–2005)
* Abhaya Amaradasa (2003–2005)
* R. Udayakumar (2005–2007)
* Rizan Nazeer (2007–2010)
* Manju Ariyaratne (2010–2013)
* Chandana L Aluthgama (2013–2015)
* Athula Munasinghe (2015–2018)
* Mithila Mendis (2019–2020)
* Hiran Wimalaratne (2021–2023)
* Aruna Samarajewa (2023–Present)