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The College was relocated to Mount Lavinia from Mutwal in 1918 by the first Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Revd James Chapman, scouting was promoted as a significant activity in producing well-rounded Thomians.  

Although Scouting seems to have started in an unofficial manner while the college was still at Mutwal, the College Magazine of August 1912 mentions that “The Boy Scouts attended the Empire Day Parade and looked very smart in their uniforms. Their total strength is 130” Also according to a note by W.T. Keble in the early 1900s, the Scouts at the time were designated as Junior Cadets. Thus, it is considered that the first record of Scouts at college was in 1912. In 1917, this platoon of scouts went on to win the Athletic Shield and the Physical Training Cup. 

 According to GSM Mr. Wilson Muttiah who did extensive research on the history of scouts at STC, states in a 1968 article, “whenever the existing records refer to “Scouts” or “Boy Scouts” in the years between 1912 and 1922, they were in fact referring to the “Junior Cadets”. 

In 1922, Scouting was “officially” permitted with the formation of the 1st Cub Pack. Thereafter a period of inactivity set in until 1928, when Dr Hayman, a Wood Badge holder himself, went on to take Scouting at S. Thomas’ to great heights. 

During the first two and a half years since inauguration, Scout Troop members were practically confined to boarders until 1932, when the day boys Troop was constituted by Carl V. Cooke, who was already scoutmaster of 15th Colombo at the time. The two Troops were referred to as “A Troop” and “B Troop” respectively, until both troops merged as the 16th Colombo Scout Group later.

In 1933, STC won the All-round Shield for Scouting at the annual Colombo Local Association (CLA) competition, for the first time. In the same year, five members attended the World Scout Jamboree in Godollo, Hungary.     

In 1935, for a short period, Edmond Godfrey-Faussett – the District Commissioner at the time undertook to run the Troop during the absence of Hayman and Keble who went on to attend a training course in Gilwell Park Scout camp UK.  

In 1940 the Scouts won the C.L.A. competition once again. 

When STC Mount Lavinia was converted to a military hospital in 1942 (during WWII), the Troop continued to function in Gurutalawa – as 16th Colombo, until the end of the war.