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The inaugural Royal-Thomian basketball encounter will be conducted on 13th of September 2003 at the S. Thomas' College Basketball courts for the D. S. Senanayake Challenge Cup.

The present boys match will be followed by the old boys match at 6 p.m. under flood lights.

The Royal and S. Thomas' teams will be led by Chatura Lunuwillage and R. S. Amarathunga respectively.

At the beginning of this season Royal College was placed second runners-up at the Colombo South basketball tournament while S. Thomas' College emerged first runners-up and the Thomians have entered the all island tournament.

The history of basketball in these two colleges goes back to early 50s and this event is considered as the inaugural encounter played for D. S. Senanayake Challenge Cup. Its hoped that this will continue for many more years to come.

Since 1999, both teams have shown immense talent. In 1999 and 2000 Thomians emerged champions in the All Island, National School Games and Colombo South tournaments under the captaincy of A. P. Muthuthanthri. Three senior players represented the national junior men's team at the championship tournament held in Malaysia. In 1999, four Thomians represented the national junior basketball team and the Colombo district team.

Again in 2000, the same four members had the opportunity of representing the Sri Lanka under-21 national team at the 3rd Asian basketball championships in Qatar.

Thomians are always grateful to the services rendered by their former Master in charge L. Nandasiri, the coaches Ajith Kuruppu and Prasanna Jayasinghe. In 1999 Royal College emerged runners-up in the Cagerat Basketball Tournament and was 2nd runner-up in the all island tournament. The team was lead by K. Prabashware. In 2000 Royal College won the under-15, 17 and 19 Colombo south championship, and the under-19 team emerged all island champions, under the captaincy of L. W. N. D. Perera in 2001.

In 2002, Thomians emerged 2nd runner-up at the all island 'B' division tournament under the captaincy of N. Y. Muttettuwegama.

In 2002 the Royal team was led by K. M. S. D. Bandara and emerged runners-up in the National School games. C. Hewalunuwilage and N. W. Wickramaratne were selected for the Colombo district team, while N. Wickramaratne was selected for the National Youth team. C. Dhanawansa represented the Sri Lanka team at the 44th south zone tournament in Andra Pradesh and in Kerala, India. N. Wickramaratne toured China with the SL schools basketball team.

Presently the Royal College team is being coached by Mr. Srikalal Fernando, the first Sri Lanka Youth team captain in the late 70s. He has represented St. Sebastian's College Moratuwa in 1975-76 and, he also has represented the national team at the Asian Youth Championship. Later on he served his Alma-mater as coach and the YMCA Moratuwa. In 1999 he joined Royal College as its senior coach.

The present basketball team of S. Thomas' College is being trained by Panduka Ranasinghe who is an old Peterite. Panduka has been the senior national women's coach in 1999 and has toured Japan with the national team. After coaching at many leading schools in Kandy and Colombo he rejoined S. Thomas in 2002.

He has represented the Sri Lanka schools team in 1985-86. He serves the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association as its tournament secretary.

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