In 1835 Rev. Joseph Marsh established a private school called the Hill Street Academy for twenty students from the upper-class community. Sir Robert Wilmot Horton (Governor of then Ceylon 1831-1837), was an Old Etonian. Eton College is one of the highest in prestige. Referred to as “The Nurse of England’s Statesmen,” Eton has educated prime ministers, world leaders, Nobel laureates, and generations of the aristocracy. 

Rev. Joseph Marsh’s private school was made into a public school by Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, who modelled the Colombo Academy based on the ideals AT Eton, and integrated the principles of his alma mater to the school that would become the Eton of Sri Lanka as Royal College Colombo.

Royal College Class of 72 is unique for being the largest single batch of 850 students to enter the college under the two-tier system.

The Class of ’72 is the first Old Royalists Group to have a written Constitution in 1987, which has been emulated by other Old Royalist Groups. Among other significant achievements as paradigm pioneers, the Royal College Class of ’72, 

nInitiated the Royal College Sports Complex with several of its members becoming Founder Life Members
nFunded the construction of the Squash Courts and the Boxing Ring at RC Sports Complex, Colombo
nInitiated and continued for several years, provision of school bags, books and stationeries to all the New Entrants to Grade 06 at Royal College.

nFelicitated the Past and Present Teachers of Royal College, and thereby recognizing their noble services. 
nLaunched an Information and Communication Centre at Royal College.

Royal College Class of ’72 also excelled in Social Service, helping deserving and deprived schools and communities:

nProvided school bags, footwear, exercise books, and caps to deserving Children from all Communities in Vavuniya and Amparai Districts worth millions

nConstructed a Community Hall and a Water Purification Plant to a deserving school in Point Pedro, Jaffna
nConstructed a Water Supply Facility to the Farming Villagers in Padaviya in Anuradhapura
nDonated over forty standard bicycles for deserving citizenry in Mannar to encourage and initiate self-employment
nLittle Heart Cardio - Thoracic Surgery Operations for children at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo.

nCovid Wisdom Fund established in 2021 to alleviate hardship caused by the pandemic to people from all walks of life. 

In celebration of Royal College 175th Anniversary, The Class of of 72 embarked on a fund-raising dinner on Board the Jetliners Cruise.  

 The Royal Class of 72 is the first Group to launch Insurance Schemes for Members and Families with Ceylinco Insurance, Suwa Sampatha, and Critical / Serious Illnesses, with Yearly Premiums being paid by the Class of ’72’s administration.

The bedrock of success of the Royal College Class of ’72 is owed to trust, loyalty, friendship and fellowship, continuing with unity in diversity. 

The culmination of a golden journey of 50 years and the beginning of the next phase of friendship and fellowship will be the cause for a gala celebration at the Monarch Imperial Dining & Convention Centre In Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte in the evening of Saturday 12th March 2022.