| Royal-Thomian Tamil Debate Encounter | |
| Administrator(s) | Royal College Tamil Debaters' Council, S Thomas's College Tamil Literary Association |
| Timeline | 1994 – present |
| Tournament format | Annual Tamil Debate encounter |
| Participants | Royal College S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia |
| Current champion | Royal College (9 - 6) |
| Most successful | Royal College - 9 wins |
| Most consecutive wins | Royal College - 7 years (2003-2009) |
The Royal-Thomian Tamil Debate Encounter(Tamil: றோயல் தோமிய தமிழ் விவாதச்சமர்):, the annual Tamil debate between Royal College, Colombo (a government-run non-denominational school - accommodates approximately 7,000 students) and S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia (a private Anglican school that has about 2,500 boys on roll) and is the longest Tamil debating series in the world. The first debate commenced in 1994, and until now for 17 years the encounter continues.
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This debating encounter is debated for the Kulasekaram Memorial Shield. This shield is awarded in memory of Mr.M.M.Kulasekaram - a former Vice Principal & Acting Principal of Royal College.
Mr.Kulasekaram had his early education at Jaffna College and at Trinity College where he shone as a scholar and sportsman. After having qualified at B.Sc.(Lond.) Examination he joined the tutorial staff of Royal College in 1922. He taught Mathematics & Physics and his past pupils, many of whom reached the heights of professional and academic distinction, say that they owe much to his instruction. In 1946 he was appointed Vice Principal which post he held till he retired in 1954. He was an Acting Principal for a period in 1953 and held the reins of office with efficiency and acceptance. His training made him meticulous, methodical and precise in whatever he did and these qualities he demanded from his pupils, his subordinates and even his colleagues. His interests included philosophy and his relaxations were tennis, walking and bridge. Though stern and unbending in appearance he had an understanding and sympathetic heart.[1]
The original Shield was replaced with a new version (2nd version) in 2002 and it contained 15 slots (to enter the winning team name for 15 years) & It was updated with the existing data and continued up to 2008, until the 15th Royal Thomian Tamil Debating Encounter. In 2009, at the 16th Royal Thomian Tamil Debating Encounter another new version of the shield (an enlarged version of the previous shield - 3rd version) was made with 50 slots (to enter the winning team name for 50 years) & it too was updated with previous data and it will be taken forward for the next 50 years. The second version of the shield remains with Royal College, as they've won the majority number of debates out of the 15.
A special award for a best debater will be chosen by the panel of judges in this debate competition. There are no specific criteria in choosing the best debater, thus they may choose any best performed debater or debaters from the winning or the losing team. But so far the maximum number of Best Debater in one competition has been two.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1994 | S.Thomas' College |
| 1995 | S.Thomas' College |
| 1996 | Royal College |
| 1997 | Tie |
| 1998 | S.Thomas' College |
| 1999 | Tie |
| 2000 | Royal College |
| 2001 | S.Thomas' College |
| 2002 | S.Thomas' College |
| 2003 | Royal College |
| 2004 | Royal College |
| 2005 | Royal College |
| 2006 | Royal College |
| 2007 | Royal College |
| 2008 | Royal College |
| 2009 | Royal College |
| 2010 | S.Thomas' College |
| Year | Captain |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Swarnarajah Nilakshan |
| 1995 | Gopen Shanmugapriyan Sethukavalar |
| 1996 | Cegu Issadeen Azziyan |
| 1997 | Gopen Shanmugapriyan Sethukavalar |
| 1998 | R.Sasitharan |
| 1999 | Rajarajeswaran Thangarajah Bramavinayagan |
| 2000 | Thevaraj Yogendran |
| 2001 | Thevaraj Yogendran |
| 2002 | Skandaraja Gajendran |
| 2003 | Umar Lebbe Mohamed Resha |
| 2004 | Neelalojanan Neshanthanan |
| 2005 | S.Sivaganesh |
| 2006 | S.Sooriyaprathap |
| 2007 | Nalliah Kumaraguruparan Ashokbharan |
| 2008 | Nalliah Kumaraguruparan Ashokbharan |
| 2009 | Thaventhiran Kapilan |
| 2010 | Ravendran Arunothayan |
| Year | Captain |
|---|---|
| 1994 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1996 | |
| 1997 | K.Surendran |
| 1998 | D.Vaitheeswaran |
| 1999 | |
| 2000 | S.Gobinaath |
| 2001 | R.Aumpiragash |
| 2002 | K.Vinoth |
| 2003 | Satheesan |
| 2004 | |
| 2005 | S.Ajanthan |
| 2006 | S.Dhuwaragan |
| 2007 | Suhail Sinnalebbe |
| 2008 | Kuganesh |
| 2009 | R.Chentooran |
| 2010 | Indushan Rajan Poobalasingham |
| Year | Best Debater |
|---|---|
| 1994 | |
| 1995 | |
| 1996 | |
| 1997 | |
| 1998 | |
| 1999 | |
| 2000 | |
| 2001 | |
| 2002 | |
| 2003 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2005 | |
| 2006 | |
| 2007 | Nalliah Kumaraguruparan Ashokbharan (RC) & Suhail Sinnalebbe (STC) |
| 2008 | Nalliah Kumaraguruparan Ashokbharan (RC) |
| 2009 | Vijei Abinandan Viswanathan (STC) |
| 2010 | Noel Rajasingham (STC) |