• The Royal-Thomian will be open to public after a two-year hiatus  

With the de-restriction of Covid-19 safety protocols on public events, Sri Lanka’s longest-running cricket series played between Royal College, Colombo, and S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia will be battled out in its full glory for the 144th uninterrupted time for the prestigious Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shied from 16-18 March at the Singhalese Sports Club, Colombo 7.

The 144th edition of the Royal-Thomian Big Match will be the 18th year that the match is sponsored by connectivity provider Dialog Axiata PLC.

Due to the unprecedented times in the last two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the matches were played behind closed doors for the safety of players. However, with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions the Joint Match Organising Committee of the Royal-Thomian, under the guidance of the heads of the two respective schools, has decided to play the 144th edition of Sri Lanka’s blue ribbon big match, the Battle of the Blues encounter, in full attendance to ensure the Royal-Thomian fraternity is able to enjoy the event as done in the past.

The 144th Battle of the Blues cricket encounter will go live on Dialog Television channel number 22, and will also be available via livestream on ThePapare.com and the Dialog “Viu” app. The limited-over “Mustang’s Trophy” match will be played on 24 Friday at the same venue.

 As a kind gesture to uplift schools’ cricket, Dialog Axiata PLC in 2015 made a pledge to contribute Rs. 1,000 for every run scored and Rs. 10,000 for every wicket that fell. Last year’s encounter contributed Rs. 834,000 to the “Play for a Cause” pledge. The proceedings were distributed in consultation with the Principal of Royal College and the Warden of S. Thomas’ College to support and empower deserving schools in the country.

 In this year’s encounter, the boys from Mt. Lavinia will be led by Stumper Romesh Mendis, while the lads from Reid Avenue will play under the captaincy of all-rounder Dasis Manchanayake.

The Royal-Thomian has a rich and colourful history spanning 143 years and is also the second-longest uninterrupted cricket series played in the world, second only to the annual encounter played between St. Peter’s College – Adelaide and Prince Alfred College – Adelaide, Australia, that began just a year earlier. The Australia vs. England Ashes Series commenced two years later in 1882.

In 1880, the first match in which only the boys took part was played at Galle Face, the present location of the Taj Samudra Hotel. This was the start of the century-old series. Both teams are said to have rowed in boats across the Beira Lake to play the match.