The Royal College Union (RCU) is the alumni association of the Royal College Colombo. Founded in 1891 as a society for alumni of the college, it is the oldest such alumni society in Sri Lanka. The Royal College Union was set up to further the interests of the College and its past and present members, and to keep former pupils in touch with each other and with the school. Annually the RCU organizes many sporting events including the Royal-Thomian, the Bradby Shield Encounter, the Royal Thomian Regatta as well as national initiatives such as EDEX and carry out development projects for the college, as well as manage and maintain much of the school's infurstutcure such as the Hostel, Royal College Sports Complex, the J.R. Jayawardene Sports Complex, RCU Skills Centre and the Swimming Pool.
RCU is governed by the Royal College Union Council. The council consists of honorary officers — the President and Vice-Presidents. The ex officio post of President is held by the Principle of Royal College Colombo and Vice Presidents are distinguished Old Royalists who are appointed as patrons of the RCU. The officer posts of the council include Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Recorder. Therefore the de facto head of the RCU is its Secretary.
The full membership of the RCU council is much larger, which includes trustees; past secretaries; board and committee members of ORGACO (Old Royalists Groups Associations & Clubs Organizers), EDEX, Management Boards, Clubs, RCU Trust, Age group members and appointed members.
The RCU Counicil is made up of members representing the RCU Trust, several Management Boards, clubs and age groups. These include;
RCU TrustRCU ArchivesOld Royalists Groups Associations & Clubs Organizers (ORGACO)Board of ManagementSwimming PoolJ.R. Jayawardene Sports ComplexRoyal College Sports ComplexHostel Advisory & Management BoardCareer Guidance, Counselling & Skills Development CentreClubsRoyal College Union Tennis ClubRoyal College Union Aquatic ClubAge groupsAge Group Over 55Age Group 45 - 55Age Group 35 - 45Age Group 25 - 35Age Group Below 25Finance CommitteeGames CouncilRugby Matches Organising CommitteeCricket Advisory & Management CommitteeRoyal – Thomian cricket match Organising committeeRoyal -Thomian Old Boys Cricket Match CommitteeAthletics Advisory & Management committeeFootball Advisory & Management CommitteeTable Tennis Advisory & Management CommitteeBadminton Advisory & Management committeeBoxing Advisory & Management CommitteeBaseball Advisory & Management CommitteeRowing Advisory & Management CommitteeLoyalty Pledge Management CommitteeMerchandise Advisory & Management CommitteeMembership Development & Services CommitteeSchool Admission Advisory & Management CommitteeConstitutional Affairs Advisory CommitteeICT (Computing) Advisory & Management CommitteeRCU Web CommitteeDance Organising CommitteeCommittee for Commemoration of Old Royalists Killed in Action (Com CORK)Constitutional Affairs & Legal Advisory CommitteeEDEX Advisory & Management CommitteePublic Relations & Publicity Advisory & Management CommitteeVolleyball Advisory & Management CommitteeRoyal Nelung Centre Management CommitteeList of Secretaries;
Sir James Peiris, JP (1891–1893)F.M. De Saram (1893–1903)Justice E. W. Jayewardene, KC (1903–1908)Colonel T. G. Jayewardene, JP, CLI (1908–1915)B.F. De Silva (1915–1921)L.J.M Pieris (1921–1923)F.C.W. Vangeyzel (1923–1925)L.J.M Pieris (1925–1926)F.C.W. Vangeyzel (1926–1933)J. R. Jayawardene (1933–1938)A.S. Mohammed (1936–1938)Colonel F. C. de Saram, OBE, CA (1938–1941)C. E. Jayewardene (1941–1942)G.R.J. De Soysa (1942–1945)L.G. Weeramantry (1945–1949)Mahesa Ratnam (1949–1950)S.A. Dissanayake (1950–1953)E.L.P. Mendis (1953–1955)M. Mohideen (1955–1961)J.W. Subasinghe (1961-1964)L.W. Modnage (1964-1969)Nihal Seneviratne (1969-1971)Deshamanya Ken Balendra (1971-1973)M. Kanagashingham (1973-1981)C.R. Kuruppu (1981-1982)Gamini Edirisinghe (1986-1991)Asoka Jayasinghe (1991-1995)Uddaka Tennakoon (1995-1999)Mahen Perera (1999-2001)Nimal Dias Jayasinha (2001-2003)Captain Ajith Peiris (2003-2005)Abhaya Amaradasa (2003-2005)R. Udayakumar (2005-2007)Rizan Nazeer (2007-2010)Manju Ariyaratne (2010–2013)Chandana L Aluthgama (2013–2015)Athula Munasinghe (2015-Present)