Projects

Present Committee Projects – (2021/2022)

General Projects

“Hostel & Beyond – A Journey of an Entrepreneur”

“Hostel & Beyond – A Journey of an Entrepreneur” event was held at Royal College Skills Centre on 27th January 2022. The event was focused on the entrepreneurial journey of Mr Nalin Pathikirikorale, a current Vice President of the Royal College Union and past president of ROCOHA. The event was held with the presence of many distinguished participants including former Principal of Royal College Mr M.V.S. Gunathilake, Secretary of Royal College Union, Col. Dr Hiran Wimalarathne and Secretary of School Development Society Mr Asanga Peiris.

The event was attracted by the members of the ROCOHA, past wardens, current hostellers of Royal College, media representatives and individuals who were interested in the event.

Mr Nalin Patikirikorale, Dr Hiran Wimalarathne, Mr Sanath

Grade 1 School Admission Clarifications

The event is organised by ROCOHA for its membership on 26th of February at 5.00pm at Royal College Hostel dining hall. Main objective of the event was to provide briefing on the old boy category marking scheme for grade 1 school admission.

Post-Pandemic Revival (PPR) Projects

Repair of Tables in the Hostel Study Room

Repair of the table-tops of the hostel study room is underway. This project is sponsored by RCH 1982 Group led by Mr. Nandana Gamlath and Mr. Lohitha Wijethunga.

Modern discussion Room at the Hostel Warden’s Office.

A modern discussion room facility was established inside the Warden’s quarters. The table arrangements and chairs required were donated by ‘One Billion Technology’, in coordination with ROCOHA.

Cleaning and Beautifying the Hostel Premises

This is an on-going project for three months with the financial support from past ROCOHA Founder member/Secretary Mr.Channa Ranasignhe and his batch mates; Mr. Sarath Ratwatte, Mr. Cris Corea and Mr. Nissanka Weerasekera of Royal College Group of 1973.

Repair of the Roof and the Boundary wall of Grade 10/11 Dormitory ( Group of 1997 A/L )

Roof and the boundary wall of Grade 10/11 Dormitory requires immediate repair. Representatives of Group of 97 Old Hostellers visited the hostel and discussed with the hostel warden. They agreed upon the requirement and pledged to steer the repair project.

The roof has already been completed. The wall repair is underway and will be completed soon.

Separate Toilet and Washroom Facilities for the Employees of the Hostel

The project is planned to commence soon. The monetary support for this project is from past hostellers is Australia, led by past president of ROCOHA Mr. Nishantha Sugunapala.

Repair of LP Gas Supply System of the Kitchen and repairing of the Roof (83 A/L batch)

Complete repairing of the LP Gas supply system of the hostel kitchen. Roof repair and the painting of the Kitchen entrance are to be completed soon. This project is led by Pilot Ranil Dharmawardena and Dr Priyantha Ranaweera of Group of 83.

Gas line reparing of Royal College Hostel

Repairing the Ceiling of Dining Hall (Group of 2004 A/L)

The ceiling of the dining hall required some mandatory repairs, as preparation for the reopening of the hostel, after the COVID-19 pandemic. This was completed with the sponsorship of the Group of 2004 A/L batch.

Past Projects

Silicon Valley Code Camp Awards Ceremony

To motivate the participants and others an awards ceremony was held on 11^th November 2021 in the dining hall where 8 iPad and certificates were awarded by the principal in front of the parents of the students. The online keynote address ‘Ride the next tech revolution-A Silicon Valley Perspective’ was delivered by MIT Graduate Mr. Ishantha Lokuge who has been the global president of a leading global IT Company and hostel students were able to view it.

Past-Hosteller Database

Membership development committee headed compiled a data base of past hostellers which can be used for future communications. It is being further added with more member information.

The Webinar on ‘Walking through the Pandemic Positively’

The above webinar was conducted by the ROCOHA, along with the website relaunch on 18^th September 2021, with the participation of an eminent panel of past hostellers. At a time when the world is going through a pandemic and many a people have been stressed, the valuable insights shared by the panel was highly appreciated by the participants through their feedback. Also, the webinar was well attended by local and international participants. The panel consisted of Dr. Saman Weerawardene, Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist, National Institute of Mental Health and Dr. Miyuru Chandradasa, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Ragama Teaching Hospital and was moderated by Prof. Ranjan Premaratne – Honorary Consultant Physician, Ragama Teaching Hospital. Also Dr. Pushpa Ranasinghe, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist on Prevention of Suicide, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) added value by sharing her insights.

Re-launch of ROCOHA Website

The project is carried out by a sub-committee of ROCOHA, to relaunch the website which has been short-lived due to content and technical limitations.

Painting of Dormitory

According to a request made by acting Warden Mr. Janaka Jayasinghe, a senior dormitory that has been in a dilapidated condition has been repaired and painted.

Principal – Royal College, Mr.M.V.S.Gunathilaka inspecting the recent dormitory renovation project supported by ROCOHA thanks to the financial assistance extended by a group of Australian past hostellers lead by ROCOHA past president Mr. Nishantha Sugunapala.

This has been the second dormitory renovation project implemented in coordination with the acting Warden Mr. Janaka Jayasinghe, supported by ROCOHA in addition to their human resource development and network development projects during the pandemic.

E-Newsletter

ROCOHA has introduced an E-newsletter to build camaraderie among past hostellers residing all over the world. Three volumes have been already published and the project will continue in the future.

Networking Through Social Media

Social media has been used to get the hostellers living around the world to network and cherish their memories. There are some Whtsapp groups created for the purpose are very active at current.

Webinar on ‘Internet Safety for Children’

When many things are done online including education; making students, parents and teachers aware of the safety and security issues of the internet is vital. Therefore, at the request of the hostel warden, a webinar on ‘Internet Safety for Children’ was conducted on Sunday, 3^rdOctober 2021 by the past hosteller Mr. Nermala Sarathchandra, Associate Tech Lead at CMS (Pvt.) Ltd. The interactive and well engaged session was well attended by teachers, parents and children.

‘Creating the future during a Pandemic’

A webinar with three past-hostellers was held on the 12^th of June 2021, for the hostel students and their parents. This was held with the participation of the following three past Hosteller Vice Chancellors.

The panelists have been;

Professor. Rohana P. Mahaliyanaarachchi (Vice-Chancellor – University of Visual and Performing Arts, former Vice-Chancellor – University of Sabaragamuwa)

Professor. Sujeewa Amarasena (Vice-Chancellor – University of Ruhuna)

Professor. Udith Jayasinghe (Vice-Chancellor – Wayamba University, Secretary – Ministry of Agriculture)

Moderated by Janaka Kumarasinghe – President ROCOHA

'Creating the future during a Pandemic' Flyer

Silicon-Valley Code Camp

With the intention of introducing ICT industry to young hostellers while they are at home during the

Pandemic, an eight-module Code Camp has been facilitated from Silicon Valley USA. Subsequently,

learning evaluation has shown positive outcomes. Eight iPads will be awarded along with the

certificates at a ceremony to the participants, sponsored by 1 Billion Tech Chairman/CEO Mr. Prasath

Nanayakkara and his Associate in the US.

The award ceremony which was to be held on 30th April 2021 has been postponed due to the pandemic.

Extension of the Hostel Fee scholarships

ln order to promote hostel students to ‘learn of books and men, and learn to play the game’ a scholarship scheme has been designed. So far funds have been received to sponsor 8 children with annual scholarships once the hostel is reopened after the pandemic.

‘A Hostel Student to USA’

Dr. Priyantha Ranaweera, a Medical Consultant residing in the USA has agreed to sponsor a hostel student for a month visit to the USA. This has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hostel Fee Support

We have continued to support needy hostellers by paying hostel fees, a project continued since 2012 and during the year, with the support of the Royal College Old Boys Association of Australia (ROCOBA).

Hostel New Building Project

Royal Millennium March organized by ROCOHA as a fund raiser for the Hostel New Building. 75% of the profit was given for ROCOHA building and balance 25% for the sports complex.