Keble had originally conceived the idea of establishing an upcountry school as early as 1929, following a visit to Nuwara Eliya.

In 1957, V. D. Paul Raj assumed the role of headmaster and oversaw the completion of the chapel of the Good Shepherd in 1960.

The fixture was resumed after the idea was mooted by the OBA of STC Bandarawela supported by the OBA of STC Gurutalawa and the two Headmasters agreed to continue the ‘Uva Thomian Cricket Encounter’ (UTCE) on a grand scale in 2009.

The match is played for a trophy to commemorate the two headmasters of Bandarawela and Gurutalawa who were responsible for starting the fixture; S. L. A. Ratnayake and Patrick Gunawardene.

The Old Boys' Association (OBA) of S. Thomas' College Bandarawela was founded in 1977 during the tenure of S. L. A. Ratnayake.