Trinity College, Kandy#Ryde Gold Medal

File:Image, Trinity College Kandy.jpg

File:Richard Collins, founder of Trinity College Kandy.jpg

In 1857 the local Anglican community in Kandy urged the Church Mission Society (CMS) to establish a school for boys in the area.{{cite book|title=The History of the Church Missionary Society: Its Environment, Its Men and Its Work, Volume 2|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofchurchm02stoc|publisher=Church Mission Society|date=1899|author1=Stock, Eugene|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofchurchm02stoc/page/284 284]}} On 16 October 1857 the Rev. John Ireland Jones arrived from England, establishing the Kandy Collegiate School.{{cite book|title=Schools for a New Nation: The Development and Administration of the Educational System of Ceylon|author=Meulder, Wallace R.|publisher=K. V. G. De Silva & Sons|date=1962|page=18}}{{cite book|title=One Hundred Years in Ceylon|author=Balding, Rev J. W.|date=1922|publisher=Church Mission Society|place=Madras|pages=76–84}} The school operated for approximately six years.

In 1872 the CMS sent out the Rev. Richard Collins, the principal of the CMS Syrian College of Travancore to re-open the collegiate school in Kandy.{{cite web | url=https://cmscollege.ac.in/history.html | title=History | access-date=20 September 2024 | archive-date=9 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309021447/https://cmscollege.ac.in/history.html | url-status=live }} On 18 January 1872, it was re-opened as the Trinity College and Collegiate School, with the Collins as principal{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130818/education/trinity-kandy-has-been-looking-to-the-end-since-its-beginning-57997.html|title=Trinity, Kandy has been looking to the end since its beginning|newspaper=The Sunday Times|last=Miranda|first=Sujitha|date=18 August 2013|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-date=27 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127134340/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130818/education/trinity-kandy-has-been-looking-to-the-end-since-its-beginning-57997.html|url-status=live}}{{cite work|title=The Ecclesiastical Gazette|publisher=Church of England|place=Oxford University|date=11 July 1871|volume=34|page=6}} and by the end of that year there were 120 enrolled students. The school library was opened in 1875. Early in 1877 the Collegiate School name was dropped and it simply became Trinity College. Rev. Collins left in 1878{{cite work|title=The Church Missionary Review|volume=51|publisher=Church Missionary Society|date=1900|page=948}} and Thomas Dunn became acting principal of the school. In 1879 the college was affiliated with the University of Calcutta.{{cite book|title=Hundred Years of the University of Calcutta: a History of the University issued in Commemoration of the Centenary Celebrations, Volume 1|editor=Bandyopadhyay, Pramathanath|publisher=University of Calcutta|date=1957}}

In 1880 the Rev. John G. Garrett was appointed as principal of the school and by the following year enrolments had increased to 238 students, with 30 boarders. In 1885 Garrett had to resign due to ill health and was replaced by the Rev. Dr. E. Noel Hodges, formerly the principal of the Noble High School, Machilipatnam. In 1889 Dr. Hodges was appointed as the Anglican Bishop of Travancore and Cochin and his post at Trinity was taken by Rev. Edward John Perry, who had been a master at Merchant Taylors' School.{{cite book|url=http://www.mocavo.com/List-of-Inscriptions-on-Tombstones-and-Monuments-in-Ceylon-of-Historical-or-Local-Interest-With-an-Obituary-of-Persons-Uncommemorated/974644/350|title=List of Inscriptions on Tombstones and Monuments in Ceylon|publisher=Mocavo|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030014/http://www.mocavo.com/List-of-Inscriptions-on-Tombstones-and-Monuments-in-Ceylon-of-Historical-or-Local-Interest-With-an-Obituary-of-Persons-Uncommemorated/974644/350|url-status=live}} On 2 April 1890, Perry was accidentally shot dead near Alutnuwara, whilst on a visit to the Vedda people in the area.{{cite work|title=The Church Missionary Review|volume=41|publisher=Church Missionary Society|date=1890|page=420}} The Rev. J. W. Fall, who was the vice-principal, became the acting principal until the arrival of the Rev. Henry Percy Napier-Clavering, in June 1890. At that time Trinity had 298 students, of whom sixty-three were boarders.

In August 1900 Napier-Clavering resigned to return to England and attend to family matters. He was replaced by Rev. Robert William Ryde, who had previously been the vice-principal at the school from 1895 to 1899 before becoming the principal at St. John's College, Jaffna. Rev. Ryde held this post for a brief two years, leaving in 1902. In 1902 the Rev. J. Carter became the temporary principal followed by a succession of temporary principals, including the Rev. Napier-Clavering{{cite work|title=The Church Missionary Review|volume=54|publisher=Church Missionary Society|date=1903|page=876}} and the Rev. A. MacLulich.

On 5 November 1904, the Rev. Alexander Garden Fraser was appointed as the principal of the school.{{cite web|url=http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/online/blcas/fraser-ag.html|title=A.G. Fraser Papers|publisher=Bodleian Library|date=22 December 2011|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-date=20 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220055311/http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/online/blcas/fraser-ag.html|url-status=live}} During Fraser's tenure he transformed a provincial school into a nationally recognised institution.{{cite ODNB|last=Symonds|first=Richard|title=Fraser, Alexander Garden (1873–1962)|date=October 2006|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/63453 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/63453|access-date=13 November 2014}} His educational reforms included the introduction of Sinhalese and Tamil into the curriculum and increased its involvement in the local community.{{cite book|title=Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions|editor-last=Anderson|editor-first=Gerald H. |publisher=Wm. B Eerdmans Publishing|date=1999|page=223|isbn=9780802846808}}{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080907/Plus/sundaytimesplus_12.html|title=The Spirit of a School|newspaper=The Sunday Times|last=Sadanandan|first=Renuka|date=7 September 2008|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123131/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080907/Plus/sundaytimesplus_12.html|url-status=live}} He was responsible for a number of building projects, including the Asgiriya Stadium and the Trinity College Chapel. He served continuously as the principal for eighteen years until 1922, his service was only interrupted by two years when he served as an army chaplain with the British Expeditionary Force in France during World War I.

The school was headed from 1925 to 1935 by Canon John McLeod Campbell{{cite book |title=The World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh, 1910|url=https://archive.org/details/worldmissionary00stan|url-access=limited|publisher=Wm. B Eerdmans Publishing|last=Stanley|first =Brian|date=2009|page=[https://archive.org/details/worldmissionary00stan/page/6 6]|isbn=9780802863607}} (who later served as chaplain to the Royal Family). McLeod Campbell retired in 1935{{cite work |title=Journal of Education|volume=66|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=October 1934}} and was replaced by Rev. Robert Stopford. Stopford was the last English-born principal of the school,{{cite news|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2004/08/12/fea06.html|title=Whither Trinity College in new century?|newspaper=Daily News|last=Pilimatalavuva|first=Ananda|date=12 August 2004|access-date=3 December 2014|archive-date=14 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214224831/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2004/08/12/fea06.html|url-status=live}} remaining in the position for five years. He later became Bishop of London. During his tenure, the college hall was gifted by a former student, A. H. T. De Soysa.{{cite news|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/07/18/in-appreciation-of-trinity/|title=In Appreciation Of Trinity|last=Ratwatte|first=Kanchana|newspaper=The Sunday Leader|date=18 July 2010|access-date=10 December 2014|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211053040/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/07/18/in-appreciation-of-trinity/|url-status=live}}[https://www.trinitycollege.lk/2019/03/25/albert-hildebrand-theodore-de-soysa-130th-birth-anniversary-of-one-of-trinitys-great-benefactors/ Albert Hildebrand Theodore De Soysa – 130th birth anniversary of one of Trinity's great benefactors (Official Website)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529220140/https://trinitycollege.lk/2019/03/25/albert-hildebrand-theodore-de-soysa-130th-birth-anniversary-of-one-of-trinitys-great-benefactors/ |date=29 May 2024 }}, Retrieved 3 April 2019 In 1940 the Church Missionary Society handed control of the school to an independent board of governors.

The board's first appointment was C. E. Simithraaratchy, the first old boy and Ceylonese-born principal, who ran the school from 1941 until 1951, including the Second World War years. His successor was Norman Sydney Walter, from 1952 to 1957. Walter returned to England and later became the headmaster of Loughborough Grammar School.{{cite work|title=Ferguson's Ceylon Directory|author=Ferguson, Alistair Mackenzie|volume=110-112|publisher=Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited|date=1968|page=255}} The responsibility for the school was then passed onto Cedric James Oorloff (formerly the principal of Wesley College, Colombo){{cite book|title=The Church of Ceylon: A History, 1945-1995|editor=Medis, Frederick|publisher=Diocese of Colombo|date=1995|page=xx}} between 1957 and 1968.{{cite news|url=http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=95323|title=Cedric James Oorloff – A tribute to a great educationist of the 20th Century|newspaper=The Island|date=4 January 2014|last=Amerasekera|first=Dr. Nihal D.|access-date=3 December 2014|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211053316/http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=95323|url-status=live}} In 1968 E. Lionel Fernando became the second former student to be appointed as the school's principal. His tenure ran for nine years, until 1977. At which time W. G. Wickremasinghe (the principal of Carey College, Colombo) was appointed as principal of the school.{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140601/plus/appreciations-4-100780.html|newspaper=The Sunday Times|title=Appreciation – Wickremasinghe|last=Jayaratne|first=Bandulla|date=4 June 2014}} He was followed by Lt. Col. Leonard M. De Alwis in 1988 who was responsible for the Pallekele Rugby Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100725/Plus/plus_12.html|title=A salute from one old Trinitian to another|newspaper=The Sunday Times|last=Ratnayake|first=Ranjit|date=2010|access-date=20 January 2015|archive-date=6 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106190939/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100725/Plus/plus_12.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/09/23/spo10.asp|title=Hemaka Amarasuriya – an amiable Sports Celebrity|newspaper=Daily News|last=De Joodt|first=Ken|date=2006|access-date=20 January 2015|archive-date=5 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205011705/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/09/23/spo10.asp|url-status=live}} He administered the school until 1998 and resigned to take on the role as the inaugural principal of Springfield College, Kandy.{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/020818/bus/5.html|title=Quality education with a warm touch|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=2003|access-date=20 September 2024|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924111715/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/020818/bus/5.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/perched-on-their-pinnacles-of-triumph/|title=Perched On Their Pinnacles Of Triumph|last=Ratwatte|first=Charitha|newspaper=Colombo Telegraph|date=29 January 2013|access-date=10 December 2014|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211050408/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/perched-on-their-pinnacles-of-triumph/|url-status=live}} De Alwis was succeeded by Warren Ranjithan Breckenridge. Breckenridge was a former student at Trinity and a professor of zoology at Peradeniya University, a post he held until 1998 when he was appointed the principal of Trinity.{{cite news|title=Breck did justly, loved mercy and walking|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090913/Plus/plus_07.html|newspaper=The Sunday Times|last=Abeyesekera|first=Ranjan|date=13 September 2009|access-date=3 December 2014|archive-date=3 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503205434/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090913/Plus/plus_07.html|url-status=live}} Following Breckenridge's retirement the college in 2003 appointed Roderick Gilbert as the school's principal.{{cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2003/12/18/letters.html|title=Trinity gets new Principal|newspaper=Daily News|last=De Alwis|first=Sharm|date=18 December 2003|access-date=20 January 2015|archive-date=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120054935/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2003/12/18/letters.html|url-status=live}} Gilbert, an Indian-born Englishman, who was previously the principal at the Hebron School in Ootacamund, India.{{cite web|url=http://www.hebronooty.org/hebron/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=207:2012ukreunionreport&Itemid=51|title=UK 2012 Reunion Report|publisher=Hebron School|date=2012|access-date=20 January 2015|archive-date=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120053918/http://www.hebronooty.org/hebron/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=207:2012ukreunionreport&Itemid=51|url-status=live}} Brig. Udaya Aryaratne{{cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/07/21/spo27.asp|title=Trinity Principal a great performer|newspaper=Daily News|last=Marikar|first=Hafiz|date=2012|access-date=20 January 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230214/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/07/21/spo27.asp|url-status=live}} was the principal from 2008 to 2015 and was succeeded by former vice principal Colin B. Ratnayake, as the acting principal until the appointment of Andrew Fowler-Watt in 2016.

Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara OSB assumed the role of principal, succeeding Andrew Fowler-Watt, effective from 1 October 2020.{{cite web |url=https://trinitycollege.lk/2020/08/24/appointment-of-principal/ |title=Appointment of Principal |publisher=Trinity College |last=Rt. Rev. Canagasabey |first=Dhiloraj |work=Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem |date=24 August 2020 |accessdate=29 February 2024 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012035947/https://trinitycollege.lk/2020/08/24/appointment-of-principal/ |url-status=live}}

{{Multiple image

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| image1 = Canopy of the WWI monument.jpg

| image2 = Plaque of the monument.jpg

| image3 = German machine gun.jpg

| image4 = Captured German Machine Gune.jpg

| image5 = The unveiling of the monument.jpg

| footer = {{bulleted list

| Top left: World War I memorial at Trinity College.

| Top right: The plaque at the memorial.

| Middle: MG 08 heavy machine gun.

| Bottom: The ceremonial unveiling by the Governor in 1919.

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Trinity College and two other English missionary schools, namely S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and Kingswood College, Kandy, and the state school Royal College, Colombo, had students who served in the First World War. Among the Trinitians, Aelian Perera was awarded a commission with the Durham Light Infantry and J. W. S. Bartholomeusz received the Croix de Guerre of the first class for his valour.{{cite web | url=https://www.ft.lk/Columnists/world-war-i-the-great-war-centenary-2/4-332714 | title=World War I: The Great War centenary | Daily FT | access-date=20 September 2024 | archive-date=12 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012035950/https://www.ft.lk/Columnists/world-war-i-the-great-war-centenary-2/4-332714 | url-status=live }}

The World War I memorial of a German machine gun stands overlooking the quadrangle in front of the Alison house. The memorial is based on traditional Sri Lankan architecture and was unveiled on behalf of King George V on 16 October 1919 by Sir William Henry Manning, the Governor of Ceylon. The memorial commemorates the service of 65 former students and staff from Trinity, including principal, Rev. A. G. Fraser, who fought in the First World War.

The Governor in his commendatory tribute stated:

{{Blockquote

|text=To me, Trinity College has a record and a Roll of Honour of which it may be justly proud. I find that 65 masters, men and boys gave their services overseas during the war and of these 65, there were no fewer than 33 casualties – 13 killed, 18 wounded, and two taken prisoner by the Germans. Now that is 50% of the number that proceeded to the battlefront. It is a record, I repeat again of which Trinity College may well be proud of – a record, I am sure you will agree with me, which any battalion, any regiment, any unit of His Majesty's service would be proud of.

|author=William Henry Manning

}}

The centre of the memorial is a Maschinengewehr 08, which was captured from an enemy encampment. The machine gun was the first noteworthy war trophy gifted by the King to Ceylon. Trinity was the first school outside the United Kingdom to be so honoured.{{Cite web |last=Ratnayake |first=Parinda |date=2018-10-10 |title=A King’s gift – the captured German machine gun |url=https://trinitycollege.lk/2018/10/10/a-kings-gift-the-captured-german-machine-gun/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250711161353/https://trinitycollege.lk/2018/10/10/a-kings-gift-the-captured-german-machine-gun/ |archive-date=2025-07-11 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=trinitycollege.lk |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2019-10-16 |title=The German Machine Gun completes 100 years at Trinity |url=https://trinitycollege.lk/2019/10/16/the-german-machine-gun-completes-100-years-at-trinity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250711162442/https://trinitycollege.lk/2019/10/16/the-german-machine-gun-completes-100-years-at-trinity/#:~:text=College%2C%20General%20Articles%2C%20History%2C,Gallery%20Pro%20Powered%20By:%20Weblizar |archive-date=2025-07-11 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=trinitycollege.lk |language=en-GB}}

{{updated|1 October 2020}}

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The school song, "The Best School of All", was adapted from a poem composed by Sir Henry Newbolt in 1889 as a song for Old Boys of Clifton College in Bristol - his alma mater. The tune of the school song was composed by Lawrence Arthur Adamson, headmaster of Wesley College, Melbourne in 1907.{{cite book|title=Democracy, Sovereignty and Terror: Lakshman Kadirgamar on the Foundations of International Order|editor=Roberts, Adam|publisher=I.B.Tauris|date=2012|page=15|isbn=9781848853072}}{{cite news|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=37677|title=Play up! Play up! And play the game!|last=Ladduwahetty|first=Ravi|newspaper=The Island|date=25 October 2011|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050105/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=37677|url-status=live}}

The words of the school hymn were composed by Walter Stanley Senior and is sung to the hymn tune, "Bishopgarth" composed by Arthur Sullivan for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Senior was the vice-principal at the college for ten years (1906–1916), he also deputised as acting principal for a short period in the absence of Alexander Fraser.{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka|author=Gunawardena, Charles A.|publisher=Sterling Publishers|date=2005|page=329|isbn=9781932705485}}{{cite news|title=W. S. Senior and "The Call of Lanka"|newspaper=Daily News|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2003/02/22/fea07.html|date=22 February 2003|last=Schokman|first=Derrick|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-date=14 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414052013/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2003/02/22/fea07.html|url-status=live}}

{{Emblem table

| name = Trinity College, Kandy

| image =

| imagesize = 125px

| notes = The Crest was designed in 1912 by the school's vice-principal, Rev. Lewis John Gaster, who was a qualified architect and draughtsman. It first appeared in the debut of the school's magazine, published in 1921.

| year_adopted = 1922

| coronet =

| crest =

| torse =

| helm =

| escutcheon =

| supporters =

| compartment =

| motto = Respice finem
(Latin for "Look to the end")

| orders =

| other_elements =

| bannerimage =

| banner =

| badgeimage =

| badge =

| symbolism = The lion: Poised atop the shield, symbolising strength and vigilance.
The three crowns: Representing the Holy Trinity, a core element of Christian doctrine.
The cross: Emphasising the college's Christian missionary roots.
Colours: Roaring red, glorious gold, and brilliant blue, each chosen for their historical and symbolic significance.
The scholastic scroll: A scroll of wisdom, underscoring the college's dedication to academic excellence.

| previous_versions = The school crest has evolved twice since the inception in 1857.{{cite web|url=https://trinitycollege.lk/the-college-crest/ |title=The crest of Trinity College Kandy |publisher=Trinity College |last= |first= |work=Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem |date=25 June 2024 |accessdate=2 September 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822090721/https://trinitycollege.lk/the-college-crest/ |url-status=live}}{{primary source inline|date=September 2024}}

| other_versions =

}}

The crest's design draws inspiration from the crests of Clifton College, a boarding school influenced by Rugby School, and Trinity College at the University of Cambridge.{{Cite web |last=Dahanayake |first=Yashwanth |date=2017-04-02 |title=History of the Trinity College Crest |url=http://trinitylk.com/2017/04/history-of-the-trinity-college-crest/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211130938/https://trinitylk.com/2017/04/history-of-the-trinity-college-crest/ |archive-date=2024-12-11 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Trinity College Kandy Worldwide Website |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last1=Jirasinghe |first1=Ramya Chamalie |last2=Akbarally |first2=Alefiya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8T7_PgAACAAJ |title=Trinity |date=2008 |publisher=Trinity College Kandy Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch |isbn=978-955-1939-00-7 |language=en}}

• The lion: The Lankan lion atop the shield, wielding a sword in its right paw, is inspired by the Sinhalese flag.
• The cross: Replacing the chevrons seen on the Clifton and Trinity Cambridge crests, the cross reflects the college's Christian roots.
• The three crowns: Borrowed from the coronets of Oxford University, these symbolise the Holy Trinity and embody a sense of royalty and nobility, aligning with Trinity College Cambridge's heritage.
• The motto: Respice finem – expounds the principle that it is not merely about persevering to the end with determination, but about upholding the highest ideals and standards throughout.

The Ryde Gold Medal is awarded each year to the "best all-round boy" at Trinity.{{cite news|url=http://dailynews.lk/?q=sports/trinity-college-prize-giving-today|title=Trinity College Prize Giving Today|newspaper=Daily News|last=Marikar|first=Hafiz|date=13 February 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-date=12 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012035949/https://www.dailynews.lk/?q=sports%2Ftrinity-college-prize-giving-today|url-status=live}} The Ryde Gold Medal is the highest honour that the school can bestow. It is awarded on the result of a secret ballot conducted among the senior boys and the staff whose votes, together with that of the principal, each count as one. While this system makes deadlock possible, it is only on four occasions that the medal has not been awarded as a result of the three votes going to three different people. The medal cannot be won more than once.{{cite web|url=https://www.trinitycollege.lk/rydegoldmedal|title=Past winners of the Best All-Round-Boy of Trinity College (pre-Ryde Gold Medal era) and Past winners of the Ryde Gold Medal|work=Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem |date=17 March 2016 }}

The Ryde Gold Medal was first presented in 1908 to John Andrew, but he was not the first boy in the history of the school to be adjudged the best all-rounder. Historical records show that such a prize has been awarded as early as 1894. The Ryde Gold Medal is named after R. W. Ryde, a former principal of Trinity (1900–1902).

Notable winners of the Ryde Gold Medal include Dr Jayantha Dhanapala (1956), the former Under Secretary-General of the UN and senior special advisor to presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapakse, former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar (1949), former vice president and CIO of the World Bank; M.V. Muhsin (1962), first Ceylonese IGP and Ambassador Sir Richard Aluwihare (1915) and Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Kumar Sangakkara (1996).

The Trinity Lion is the most prestigious award a sportsman can achieve at Trinity.{{cite web|url=http://www.thepapare.com/index.php/features/117-kaneel-seneviratna-trinity-s-first-double-lion-of-the-21st-century|title=Kaneel Seneviratna – Trinity's first Double Lion of the 21st Century|publisher=ThePapare.com|last=Caffoor|first=Inshaf|date=16 December 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-date=22 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122230422/http://thepapare.com/index.php/features/117-kaneel-seneviratna-trinity-s-first-double-lion-of-the-21st-century|url-status=live}} Rugby Lions were awarded in 1915, to A. Halangoda and R. Ondaatje. Since then there have been 129 Rugby Lionsmen (until 2004). Notable awardees of Trinity Lions include former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar; former Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa: Sri Lankan Cricketers Kumar Sangakkara, Ravi Ratnayeke, Olympic Silver Medalist Duncan White and former major general and Ambassador Niranjan A Ranasinghe. There has been one Triple Lion in Trinity's history which is Thushara Weerasooriya who achieved this feat in 1986 in Rugby, Cricket, and Athletics.{{cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/09/16/spo20.asp|title='Thusha' Weerasooriya - Trinity's Triple Lion|work=Daily News|last=de Joodt|first=Ken|date=16 September 2006|accessdate=6 August 2023|archive-date=3 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803193948/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/09/16/spo20.asp|url-status=live}}

File:Valesca-Raimann-Alison-kings-gun-napier.jpg

Trinity College rose into prominence as a Boarding School since its inception in 1872. The boarding system got referred to as the "Backbone of college".

Often, well to do parents from all around Ceylon, the British Empire, and the world sent their children to the Trinity boarding. Royal families in Uganda, Gold Coast (Ghana), Brunei and Maldives, to respectable communities in China and the Middle East, boarded their children at Trinity in the days of old.{{cite web | url=http://oldtrinitywebsite.com/boarding-house-system/ | title=Boarding System | Trinity College Kandy Official Website | access-date=20 September 2024 | archive-date=12 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012035944/http://oldtrinitywebsite.com/boarding-house-system/ | url-status=live }}

The senior school students are divided into five houses. Their names are derived from past principals and teachers of the college. There are three boarding houses, however, due to low numbers of boarders they collectively compete as the Central Boarding House.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=sports/simitharachchi-house-athletic-champions-trinity|title=Simitharachchi House – Athletic Champions of Trinity|newspaper=Daily News|last=Jayasundara|first=Upananda|date=3 March 2014|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113113658/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=sports/simitharachchi-house-athletic-champions-trinity|url-status=live}} The houses are led by House Captains, competing in all major games to win the inter-house competitions.

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; Napier House

• Colours: Red and White
• The first official Senior Boarding House was started in 1898 and constructed by Rev H. P. Napier-Clavering and later named after him as Napier House. The UNESCO declared Napier house as a conserved structure within the world heritage city of Kandy.

; Alison House

• Colours: Blue and White
• On 7 June 1909, the foundation stone of Alison house was laid by Mrs Fraser. Alison house was designed by Norman S. Campbell and was constructed by Messrs. Walker, Sons & Co. Ltd. The opening ceremony of the Alison House took place on 17 December 1909 in the presence of Ernest Arthur Copleston D. D. Bishop of Colombo. The Governor, Sir Henry Edward McCallum, opened the Laboratories by unlocking the main door with a silver key handed to him by the principal, Rev. A. G. Fraser. The new dormitory got named after Alison Watson, the daughter of Mr William Watson of Newcastle, whom Fraser appointed as honorary secretary and treasurer of the Trinity College Extension Fund in Great Britain.{{cite web | url=https://trinitycollege.lk/2019/09/24/a-walk-through-the-history-of-the-alison-house/ | title=A walk through the history of the Alison House | Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem | work=Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem | date=24 September 2019 | access-date=20 September 2024 | archive-date=25 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225160242/https://trinitycollege.lk/2019/09/24/a-walk-through-the-history-of-the-alison-house/ | url-status=live }}

; Ryde House

• Colours: Black and Yellow
• Ryde House got opened as the 3rd boarding house of Trinity in 1911, during the tenure of Alexander Garden Fraser. Ryde house got named after Robert William Ryde - the sixth principal of Trinity College.

; Garret House

• Colours: Green
• Established: 1910 (named after the third principal, Rev. John Garrett)

; Lemuel House

• Colours: Blue
• Established: 1954 (named after C. N. Lemuel, a long-serving teacher at Trinity College)

; Oorloff House

• Colours: Maroon
• Established : (named after the thirteenth principal, Cedric Oorloff)

; Simithraaratchy House

• Colours: Yellow
• Established : (named after the eleventh principal, C. E. Simithraaratchy)

The junior boarding accommodates students from Grades 4 to 7.

In the past, 5-year-olds got housed in the matron's dormitory from where they went to the Junior School Boarding Houses, named after former principals Collins, Hodges and Perry. Between the junior and senior houses, the boarders got housed in a dormitory referred to as Squealary, which got further divided into Junior, Senior and Super. And within these houses, they had separate sections named after three well-known British Public Schools, Eton, Harrow and Rugby. Currently, the boarding does not issue admission to students below fourth grade.{{cite web | url=https://trinitycollege.lk/portfolio/boarding-houses/ | title=The Boarding Houses of Trinity | Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem | work=Trinity College Kandy - Respice Finem | date=24 November 2020 | access-date=20 September 2024 | archive-date=17 April 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417231219/https://trinitycollege.lk/portfolio/boarding-houses/ | url-status=live }}

{{Main|List of Trinity College, Kandy alumni}}

{{See also|Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Kandy}}

During the 3rd rendition of the Annual Fraser Memorial Oration on 12 February 2024, The Trinity Story 1872–2022, a book providing a narrative of the life and times of Trinity as envisioned by the founding fathers and spanning 150 years, was launched. The first copy was presented to the principal.

Furthermore, the Trinity Digital History website was also launched. This website serves as a comprehensive digital archive of Trinity's historical records spanning from 1872 onwards.{{cite web|url=https://trinitycollege.lk/2024/02/12/fraser-memorial-oration-2024-brightened-with-groundbreaking-trinity-history-project/|title=Fraser-Memorial Oration 2024 brightened with groundbreaking Trinity History Project|publisher=Trinity College|last=Pathiraja|first=Nimuthu|date=12 February 2024|accessdate=28 February 2024|archive-date=28 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228174513/https://trinitycollege.lk/2024/02/12/fraser-memorial-oration-2024-brightened-with-groundbreaking-trinity-history-project/|url-status=live}}

• Choir of Trinity College, Kandy
• Asgiriya Stadium
• Trinity College Rugby Stadium
• Bradby Shield Encounter
• Battle of the Blues (Kandy)
• Mahela-Sanga Challenge Trophy
• Hillwood College

{{notelist|30em}}

;Sources

• {{Cite web |date=17 March 1972 |title=Centenary Number, Trinity College, Kandy, 1872–1972 |url=https://noolaham.net/project/904/90301/90301.pdf |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808231314/https://noolaham.net/project/904/90301/90301.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025 |website=noolaham.net}}
• {{Cite web |date=12 February 2024 |title=The Trinity Story 1872–2022 |url=https://history.trinitycollege.lk/the-trinity-story-1872-2022#:~:text=The%2520Trinity%2520Story%25201872%2520%252D2022%2520provides%2520a%2520narrative%2520of%2520the,them%2520down%2520through%2520generations%2520to |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513073453/https://history.trinitycollege.lk/the-trinity-story-1872-2022 |archive-date=13 May 2025 |access-date=13 May 2025 |website=history.trinitycollege.lk}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Fraser |first=A. G. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Extension_of_Trinity_College_Kandy_Ceylo/JulYHQAACAAJ?hl=en |title=Extension of Trinity College, Kandy, Ceylon |date=1908 |publisher=Aberdeen University Press |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Reimann |first=Valesco L. O. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_History_of_Trinity_College_Kandy/9CPYGwAACAAJ?hl=en |title=A History of Trinity College, Kandy |date=1922 |publisher=Diocesan Press |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=J. McLeod |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Sinhalese_Chapel_for_Trinity_College_K/2OlkQwAACAAJ?hl=en |title=A Sinhalese Chapel for Trinity College, Kandy |date=1926 |publisher=Trinity College Printers'Club |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=John MacLeod |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Trinity_College_Kandy/o7A0YAAACAAJ?hl=en |title=Trinity College, Kandy |date=1928 |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Medis |first=Frederick |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Church_of_Ceylon/BB3kAAAAMAAJ?hl=en |title=The Church of Ceylon: A History, 1945-1995 |date=1995 |publisher=Diocese of Colombo |isbn=978-955-9411-00-0 |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Jirasinghe |first=Ramya Chamalie |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Trinity/8T7_PgAACAAJ?hl=en |title=Trinity |last2=Akbarally |first2=Alefiya |date=2008 |publisher=Trinity College Kandy Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch |isbn=978-955-1939-00-7 |language=en}}

• [https://trinitycollege.lk/ Trinity College website]
• [https://history.trinitycollege.lk/home Trinity Digital History]
• [https://churchofceylonlk.com/ Church of Ceylon website]

{{Trinity College Kandy}}

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