Every batch of students have special memories of their childhood. These students build bonds that last a lifetime. Royal College, Colombo, is one of our nation’s outstanding schools that has produced some of the finest gentlemen. Dinesh Gunawardena, Member of Parliament would never have imagined that the boy who played cricket with him would one day ascend to become the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and that is exactly what ‘RW” achieved.
Gunawardena recalled the first day at the Royal Primary, “We sat under a large tree with our parents. Ranil’s parents were known to us. The admissions took a while and we both joined the same class on the same day’. At that time, each class had only 20 students, and there were two such classes. Since Ranil lived nearby he walked to school.
Dinesh remembers their class teacher of Grade 3, Ms. Sugathapala. She was keen that her ‘boys’ learn to appreciate art and crafts. She got them to engage in painting. Ranil had shown notable prowess at artistic expression. Ms. Sugathapala had submitted some of their paintings to a children’s art competition in Delhi, India. Behold, a few weeks later he and Ranil both had won an award for their paintings!
The three friends
During this year there was a new admission to the class, an amiable boy named Anura. To the surprise of many, Anura Bandaranaike joined Royal College from their traditional cricket rival, S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. The three boys became friends.
Also, during this time the Royal Primary Head Master, Mr. Bandaranaike launched a new book titled, Nawa Maga - a book that envisioned new concepts of education. Dinesh and Ranil enjoyed reading this book, which gave them insight in realizing the need for pragmatic education. The students had to learn Latin and Pali, and recite phrases. “Improvidus, Apto quod Victum - Improvise, adapt and overcome: - this is what the students learnt and mastered in life.
Dinesh recalls, at times they were mildly nervous, but decades later these oratory skills which lay dormant in their young minds blossomed and enabled them both to speak with clarity in Parliament, often agreeing to disagree!
Battle of the Blues
It was not all books at Royal College. The boys loved to play cricket under the shade of the large tree. Ranil developed a keen interest in cricket and rugby. The Royal - Thomian match was a time of revelling in fun. Dinesh recalls that “Ranil was a keen fan and a great cheer leader, who inspired others.” During this time there was a man who sold kadale (gram) to the boys. He was often clad in a white sarong and shirt. Decades later, when I went for my first ‘Battle of the Blues’ I encountered this grey haired worthy, sporting a blue and gold wristband, clad in his immaculate white sarong. ‘Kadale’ as he was affectionately known, passed away into the realm of eternal paradise.
Dinesh also joyfully spoke about the college canteen. “There was a little booth operated by the Milk Board. They sold vanilla and chocolate milk in small glass bottles. These were the only two flavours available then. Ranil loved to drink chocolate milk”. Also, there was an assortment of snacks, unlike the fast food trend we witness today. At times, the domestic maid or ayah would bring RW some food from home and he would share it with his friends. The boys at Reid Avenue were inculcated in green practices, decades ago. They were each asked to plant and tend to a tree, Dinesh Gunawardena said. “The trees we planted are still at Royal. I took my son to school and showed him the tree that Ranil and I tended. This is how we learnt to care for the environment, many years ago”.
Returning to the classrooms, the boys were taught drama by Basil Mihiripenna and oriental music by Ilene Sarathchandra. At that time, the Head Master was keen to renovate and build Navaranghala Hall, and he proceeded to give each student a ticket book. The boys pitched in. The desired funds were raised and the building was completed, and since then, it has been a launching pad for aspiring artistes.
In Grade 6, the boys were under the guidance of the legendary educationist R.I.T. Alles, who they recall was a strict disciplinarian. Ranil always carried a book, often an ‘English publication’ and was an avid reader. If reading cultivates any habit it is the virtue of patience. Ranil was very fond of the library. It was here that he developed the ability to read and analyze facts, Dinesh said. “Ranil’s father, Esmond Wickremesinghe, had access to many good books from Lake House, which is how I think Ranil developed an interest for reading.”
UNP Youth Front
In his senior year, young Dinesh took to marching drills and became a cadet, while Ranil displayed his prowess as a leader and was a College Prefect. This was his first step in engaging youth, and years later, he would lead the UNP Youth Front.
Since leaving school the two classmates met on and off, as they both entered Parliament, Ranil in 1977 and Dinesh in 1983. The lessons and experiences at Reid Avenue have groomed them for greater responsibility. Perhaps, those golden years at Royal College could be summed up in the words of Aristotle: ‘The energy of the mind is the essence of life’.
Decades later, Dinesh Gunawardena says, with immense nostalgia, “Today, we disagree on certain issues, yet, we are classmates. We are Royalists from the batch of ’60. We are friends forever”.