GALLE – As part of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations of Richmond College, Galle, the College has organized a series of prestigious All-Island Rugby and Badminton Championships,
reaffirming its longstanding commitment to sporting excellence and youth development.
Richmond College, founded on 1 May 1876, introduced organized sports to its students in 1880, just four years after its establishment. Accordingly, 2026 marks 146 years of sporting tradition at
the College, a legacy that has produced numerous outstanding sportsmen and contributed significantly to school sports in Sri Lanka.
Among schools actively engaged in rugby and badminton, Richmond College has earned a distinguished reputation, particularly in badminton, where the College has secured multiple AllIsland Championship titles over the years.
In keeping with the spirit of its sesquicentennial celebrations and with the objective of sharing its
rich sporting heritage and experience with schools across the country, Richmond College has
organized these national-level tournaments as part of its commemorative programme.
All-Island Under-16 Rugby Tournament
The All-Island Under-16 Rugby Tournament, featuring 14 leading schools, will be held on
Sunday, 2 August, commencing at 7.00 a.m. at the Board of Investment (BOI) Grounds, Koggala.
Richmond Cricket Academy Premier League (RCPL) Coinciding with the anniversary celebrations, the Richmond Cricket Academy Premier League
(RCPL), organized by the Richmond College Old Boys’ Association, will be conducted from 31 July to 2 August.
The Richmond Cricket Academy currently provides structured coaching to nearly 300 talented young cricketers, making it one of the most successful grassroots cricket development
programmes in the region.
All-Island Under-15 Badminton Championship
The All-Island Under-15 Badminton Championship, conducted under four competition categories, will take place from 4 to 8 August at Richmond College and the Dadella Sports Complex, Galle.
The tournament will attract competitors from 170 boys’ and girls’ schools across Sri Lanka, with an estimated 1,700 players and officials participating, making it one of the largest school
badminton championships in the country.
Corporate Sponsors
The tournament series is generously supported by leading corporate partners.
Kasagala Plantation Group has come forward as the Principal Sponsor, while Nestlé Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. is the Gold Sponsor.
The Silver Sponsorship has been provided by Mr. A. G. Ameen Hussain, Director of the Historical Mansion Museum, and P & S has extended its support as the Official Food Sponsor.
These tournaments form an integral part of Richmond College’s 150th Anniversary celebrations, reflecting the College’s enduring commitment to sporting excellence, youth development, and the
promotion of healthy competition among schools throughout Sri Lanka.
A media briefing on the forthcoming All-Island Rugby and Badminton Championships, organized as part of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations of Richmond College, was held at Richmond College, Galle, on 28 July.
The briefing was attended by Mr. Prabath Withanage, Principal of Richmond College; Dr. Sumedha Jayaweera, Principal of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo, and President of the All-Island Schools Badminton Association; Attorney-at-Law Srimal Wijesekara, Honorary Secretary of the Richmond College Old Boys’ Association (RCOBA); Mr. Chamath Abeygunawardena, Chairman of the Sports Sub-Committee of the Richmond College Old Boys’ Association; together with several other officials associated with the tournament and the sesquicentennial celebrations.