In the newly commissioned state of the art facility, the Sports Ministry Auditorium, the Royalist and Thomians gathered to launch a Gold Toss Coin and unveil the new Logo for the Royal- Thomian big match which will mark 135 long years with this year’s encounter to be played on the 13th,14th and 15th of March at the SSC grounds.
The encounter that is pitched as the second longest in the history of the World’s sporting battles and upholds great values with both schools striving to conduct the event in bonhomie spirit and camaraderie in and out of the field. Epitomizing this same spirit the Royal –Thomian organising committee together with the principals of both schools in the midst of other distinguished patronage from the two schools and media set about to launch the logo and toss coin with great aplomb at the Sports Ministry auditorium.
Proceedings commenced with a traditional dance recital and the singing of both college songs which set the tone for the evening as well as the match in a week to come. The Chairman of the organising committee Harith Jayasuriya addressed the gathering explaining the process behind the match logo and gold toss coin. He also stated that the organising had gone on over the years without a single person on the pay roll and, committee after committee continued to do a tremendous job.
The Principal of Royal College Mr Upali Gunasekara thanked those present and the sponsors without whom he mentioned this event would not be possible. In a parting shot he related that the Warden of S Thomas College had asked him if they had polished the D. S. Senanayake Shield to which Principal Gunasekara had replied ‘We did polish it, but not to give it back to S. Thomas’ College’.
Prof Indra De Zoysa, Warden of S Thomas articulated about the spirit and traditions and thanked the sponsors. He also addressed the boys present urging them to take forth this encounter to the future and uphold norms and traditions as their forefathers had handed over to them. He replied the Royal principal by stating that he also promises to polish the shield when bringing it back the next time.
A heartening feature was, that compering of the event was done by the school boys themselves and it was conducted in a very professional manner. In the same vein a presentation jointly put together on the two schools and the encounter preceded the unveiling of the gold toss coin and logo.
The main sponsor of the Royal-Thomian is Etisalat and Wail Salman acting CEO took stage. ‘We have been sponsoring teams like, Barcelona, Manchester City and we are also proud sponsors of Golf, Kandy and Army when it comes to Rugby and SSC in cricket as well. Apart from that we are also sponsoring Richmond-Mahinda and ofcourse the Battle of the Blues. Etisalat is extremely proud to be associated with the second oldest uninterrupted cricket encounter and cherishes its relationships with the Royal-Thomiam. I have learnt alot about the culture of this great country and its people and rich tradition and also about the friendly rivalry which is much more than a cricket encounter’ he concluded.
A host of co-sponsors, Elephant House, Keells, Prima Kothu mee, Standard Charted Bank, Nithyakalyani Jewellers, CBL-Munchee, Anchor-Newdale/Fonterra, Perera& Sons, Texus Linen, MAS Holdings, TNT, YesFM, Iceman, Continental Insurance and of course web partners ThePapare.com presented their cheques and products to the chairman of the organising committee and principals at the assembly.
A drum fusion by the two schools ended proceedings with the gathering called over for refreshments after the event.
