According to 19-year-old Thomian Kris, "the traditions of the big matches are a must. It is a heritage that comes with being a Thomian, or a Royalist." He also adds that, while he is "not into hat collections much, I definitely believe in the risk of having cops chasing you around, or beating you up when you manage to get into a girls' school. The girls love it.
They find it very interesting and there are some girls who actually give us directions to come to their classrooms."
Royalist Danith * (19) agrees with Kris. "This is the largest event in school, second in Sri Lanka only to the Kandy Perahera." He also believes that getting into girls' schools is "a harmless tradition, as long as you don't harass the girls. We basically jump into Ladies, Bishops and Bridgets. Some freak out, but others find it amusing. We simply cheer for Royal, go to a class and try to teach something before we are kicked out by the teachers or the police."
Joseph * an 18-year-old Commerce student of St. Peter's College says he "never found jumping into girls' schools fun, though I plan to do it this year, to try it out when I can." He believes that this tradition is "probably a protest against why we never get to be with the opposite sex."
Speaking to the girls we found that the boys' disruption was a welcome break from the tedium of school hours. 18-year-old Bishopian Radika * is of the opinion that "there is nothing wrong with them jumping into the school as long as they don't get too naughty like kissing the teachers or cutting off their ties. Of course we wait till it happens, it's really cool. I do not give directions and draw maps and stuff for the guys, though there are others who do that."
Another Bishopian Erandi * (19) wishes that the girls had something like the big matches. "They have so much fun, while we are not allowed to have fun like the guys do." "Imagine a bunch of girls jumping into a guys' school and screaming their heads off, running around the place, painting the walls.
The people in this country would probably die of massive coronaries," said Menalka * a student of the same school.
Bridgeteen Sonali * (18) found all the uproar "just another excuse to miss work. It's something out of the ordinary, and the stupid principals always call the police. They should just let them come and go." Added Shalini * also a student of St. Bridget's College, "I actually enjoy it when they bug the teachers. They get so embarrassed and pissed off, and we miss even more work."
The ladies of the other leading school in Colombo 7 were of strong opinions but reluctant to have the name of their schools published. Said Rozanne * "I love it when the guys jump into school and create havoc. It's such a lovely sight to see the teachers running all over the place in a frenzy." Michelle * agreed, "I think it's lots of fun, especially when they manage to get into your class."
Familian Hiranthi * was one of those waiting in anticipation for the arrival of the "boys. "We even spend more time on dressing-up when we know that a gang of boys from a particular school is to arrive." Visakhian Uditha * (17) said that being one of those not allowed to go to watch the matches, she was always glad to have the guys turn up in their school premises.