A chance discovery of a digital copy of the History of Royal College (1931), on the Internet, has led to the publication of this Re-print within two years of such finding. The value of this publication is inestimable. It is the story of the school with a small beginning in a
colonial setting in 1835 progressing over the years to become an iconic national institution. The pre- eminent public school that continues to set the standards for all other schools in the country. The authors were 20 students aged from 15-19 years working under the watch of four Masters in the school and a remarkable Principal H.L. Reed.
The original publication broke new ground in Ceylon as there was no previous instance of such a comparable narrative on school history produced by any other school in the country. It was inspired by an example set in a leading English school Merchant Taylors. Royal College became the second school in the world to write its history by its own students.
Written in lucid language exceedingly readable the book deals with the varied challenges and tribulations the school faced including the threat of permanent closure by the fiat of the colonial government. Some of the leading lights in almost every sphere of Sri Lanka, have
had their basic education in this school. From New York to Melbourne and from New Delhi to Tokyo the alumni of Royal College have left their indelible footprints in International Organisations, covering fields such as Medicine, Commerce, International Law, Space Science
and inter alia, in all spheres of Sport. How was this possible? Perusal of the book would help discover the answer.
Supplied by the Barefoot Bookshop, Galle Road, Colombo.
