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By Riyaz Aluher
The 147th Battle of the Blues is privileged to welcome Ranjan Madugalle, one of Royal College’s most illustrious sons, as the Guest of Honour from the Royal College, of this historic encounter between Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia.
Born on 22 April 1959, Madugalle began his early education at Trinity College Kandy, where he first displayed his talent for cricket. His move to the Royal College Colombo proved to be a defining step in his cricketing journey. At Royal, he developed into one of the most outstanding cricketers of his generation.
In 1979, he captained the Royal College First XI during the historic Centenary Royal–Thomian Cricket Encounter. His achievements during his final year at school were truly remarkable. He served as Head Prefect of Royal College, was awarded the prestigious Frederick Donhorst Memorial Prize for the best all-round student of the school, and became the first recipient of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award, recognising his exceptional performance and leadership on the cricket field.
Madugalle’s schoolboy success paved the way for an impressive international career. Representing the Sri Lanka national cricket team, he played 21 Test matches and 63 One Day Internationals between 1979 and 1988. He was also a member of the historic Sri Lankan team that played the country’s first-ever Test match in 1982 against England, where he top-scored with a fine 65. He later captained Sri Lanka in both Test and One Day International cricket.
Following his retirement from international cricket, Madugalle continued to serve the sport with distinction. He joined the International Cricket Council as a Match Referee in 1993. He went on to become the Chief Match Referee of the ICC Elite Panel, officiating in hundreds of international matches and major ICC tournaments. His professionalism and integrity have earned him immense respect within the global cricketing community.
Despite his international commitments, Madugalle has remained closely connected with his alma mater. He currently serves as a Vice President of the Royal College Union and is also an active member of the Royal College Games Council, contributing significantly to the development of sports at the school. His involvement in the Cricket Advisory Committee further reflects his continued dedication to nurturing the next generation of Royal cricketers.
On a personal note, my encounter with him as an old boy and the opportunity to work alongside him through the Cricket Advisory Committee and the Games Council gave me the privilege of interacting closely with a truly remarkable personality. His humility, wisdom, and commitment to the Royal College made it a memorable experience to mingle and work with such a distinguished Royalist.
As a Guest of Honour of the 147th Royal–Thomian Cricket Encounter, Ranjan Madugalle stands as a shining example of the values of leadership, excellence, and service that Royal College seeks to instil in every student. His journey continues to inspire generations of Royalists to carry the proud traditions of the College to the highest levels of achievement.
Riyaz Aluher, former Assistant Principal and Senior Games Master of Royal College
