The annual award ceremony of Loyalty Pledge was held at the Royal College Union Skills Centre on 27th June 2025. The Loyalty Pledge passed another milestone by awarding 188 educational scholarships for 2025/26. Recipients were awarded the scholarships at this glamourous but charming event. Mr. Athula Wijewardana, the Principal of Royal College was the Chief Guest at the event and a renowned and award-winning artist, Mr. Lakshman Mendis graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. The invitees from the Royal College Union, college staff and parents of the scholars were present to witness the event. Several distinguished old Royalists were present representing old Royalists groups in Sri Lanka and overseas.
Mr. Wijewardena, the Principal of the College recognized that the Loyalty Pledge is a very unique programme in the school ecosystem. He emphasized it as a model that should be adopted by other schools create student wellbeing within the school itself. He extended his sincere gratitude to the old boys’ community of Royal College for setting up the Loyalty Pledge and supporting the students through this platform.
Mr. Aruna Samarajeewa, the Secretary of Royal College Union, in his speech, explained the importance and priority given by the Royal College Union to the Loyalty Pledge to promote student welfare in the school. He assured that the support to Royal College through the Loyalty Pledge will not only be continued, but it will be strengthened in the years to come.
Mr. Lakshman Mendis highlighted the opportunities students get by being at Royal. He shared living narratives of his acting journey that began from Royal College. Mr. Lakshman Mendis, is an old Royalist from the Group of 1969. He was an actor in the first stage drama played on the stage of Navarangahala “Kalade Palade” in 1968. Playing the role of “Jundaiya” in the famous teledrama in 1990s “Kadulla” is one of the jewels in his illustrious acting career. Today, he has won many awards and accolades including “Sarasaviya Sammana” which is Sri Lanka’s Oscar Awards. He explained how the values and character he inculcated whilst studying at Royal helped him steer through his life.
The certificates to the recipients of scholarships were distributed during the ceremony. Kavindu Madushan, who is a scholar in grade 12 delivered the speech on behalf of the students receiving scholarships. Supun Abeysekera, who is a 3As scholar from biology stream delivered the speech on behalf of undergraduates. Both the scholars shared with the gathering how Loyalty Pledge supported them to continue with their studies and extra-curricular activities.
“The Descendants”, a group of musicians from the Personality and Communication Skills Development programme of the Loyalty Pledge, entertained the gathering by singing several famous songs. The music group included singers, guitarists, drummers and keyboard players. This was a great opportunity for these Royalists to showcase their talents harnessed through the Skills Development programme of the Loyalty Pledge.
Together with the scholarships awarded for 2025/206, the Loyalty Pledge has awarded 2988 educational scholarships since its beginning in 2002. The total value of these scholarships have exceeded Sri Lankan Rupees One Hundred and Ten Million. The Loyalty Pledge takes immense pride in making this contribution to Royal College to make better Sri Lankans. This journey would never have been a reality had it not been for the generous donors who have been supporting this cause unreservedly. At the Loyalty Pledge steps into another year, it looks forward to enriching the lives of another batch of Royalists to make their future brighter and prosperous.
