Page 7 - 15TH ROYAL-THOMIAN SOUVENIR.cdr

“first big match ever to be played

in the Middle East”

Founder Member - STC OBA,UAE

The inaugural meeting of the STC OBA in UAE was held in 1999 in Gamini
Kanangara’s office (Frico International) near the Old Dubai Museum in
BurDubai.Those present at this historic meeting were Gamini, Viresh,
late Shan, Malsiri, Derrick and myself .

The first gathering of Old Boys residing in UAE was held at the Ramada
Continental Hotel with a Gala Dinner. Ravi Sunderaj the first Chief
Coordinator was appointed from the gathering that turned up
for this occaision.

Royalist and Thomians eager to have a joint event,then began discussions
to stage a Royal - Thomian cricket match and the inaugural match was played
at the Dubai Exile grounds in April 2000. Coincidentally the captains for the
first “Battle of the Blues” in UAE - Heshan De Silva (Royal) and Lindon Loose
(STC) captained the “Big Match” teams in Colombo in the same year. In the
years that followed the contest has become very competitive and many a
Old Thomian and Royalist takes this event seriously.

​Being the first Big match EVER TO BE PLAYED IN THE MIDDLE EAST ​the
'Battle of the Blues in UAE” became an annual event among the Sri Lankan
expatriate community in the United Arab Emirates, which has encouraged
many other OBU’s of Sri Lankan schools to follow suite.

It gives me great pleasure personally as a founder member of STC OBA
to record that we are holding this event for the 15th time and besides cricket ,
we have now added rugby. This event has now become a family outing
with a Ladies cricket match for our wives and entertaining games for our
children.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gentlemen who have kept
the Thomian flag flying all these years, especially Gamini Kannangara,
Viresh Gomes, Lashan Egalahewa, Rajiv Perera, Ruwan Gunasena,
Devindra Perera ,David Daulagala , Chris Gamalathge, Amal Ekanayake,
George Kulasekara and Ashaan Ahamadeen to name but a few, who have
contributed to maintain this wonderful tradition beyond the shores of Sri Lanka.

Wishing success to Jonathan, Randesh, Niroshan and Team and the
furure committees to come.

Iqbal Marjan