Zahira College (commonly known as Zahira) (, ) is an Islamic school in Maradana, Colombo, Sri Lanka, founded in 1892 as Al Madrasathul Zahira by Islamic lawyer and educationalist, M. C. Siddi Lebbe, with the patronage of Ahmed Orabi Pasha of Egypt. The college's campus features one of the oldest mosques in the country.
The word Zahira means "excellence" in Arabic.
History Zahira College was established as a school mainly for Muslims in 1892. It was conceived by Islamic lawyer and educator M. C. Siddi Lebbe, during a time when English education was viewed with suspicion due to its association with proselytism. At the time, almost all schools in Sri Lanka were run by Christian missionaries, and English education was seen as a tool for converting non-Christians to Christianity. This posed a challenge for Muslims who wanted to provide their children with a modern education but were wary of exposing them to religious conversion.
In a public speech in 1891 at the Maradana Mosque Hall (which later became the college mosque), M. C. Siddhi Lebbe appealed to the Muslim community to unite to promote the educational advancement of the community. This appeal led to the formation of the Colombo Muslim Educational Society, with I. L. M. Abdul Aziz as the first secretary and Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar as the first treasurer and headmaster, assisted by Ahamed Orabi Pasha, an Egyptian exile in Ceylon. On Monday, 22 August 1892, Zahira College opened its doors to students. The school started with 37 students, rising to 125 by the end of its first year of operation.
The Zahira College magazine is entitled Crescent.
Governance Zahira College is overseen by a board comprising 18 governors drawn from the executive committee of the Maradana Mosque, the Zahira College Welfare Society, the Zahira College Parent-Teachers Association, and the Zahira College Old Boys' Association. M. Fouzul Hameed took over as chairman of the Board of Governors in 2006.
Notable former principals of the college include Tuan Burhanudeen Jayah (1921-1947), A. M. A. Azeez (1948-1961), and R. I. T. Alles (1983-1985). The current principal, since 2013, is A. R. M. Trizviiy Marikkar.
Sports facilities The project to build a college swimming pool was proposed and funded by the Old Boys Association. It was initiated in 2010 and completed on 14 July 2012, opening for students, alumni, and the public (after school hours).
The college began constructing a major sports complex in 2020.
Notable alumni
Name Notability Reference Vice President of the Maldives (1975–1977) Member of Parliament - Kilinochchi (1970–1983), Jaffna (2000–2004) U. L. M. Mohideen Member of Parliament - Ampara (1994–2001) Member of Parliament, Minister of Trade Member of Parliament - National List (2015–present), Colombo (1994–2015), Mayor of Colombo (1974–1977) Speaker of the Parliament (1977–1983), Member of Parliament - Beruwala (1960–1988), Governor of Southern Province (1988–1993) Ali Sabry Minister of Foreign Affairs (2022–Present), Minister of Finance (2022), Minister of Justice (2020–2022), Member of Parliament - National List (2020–present) Badi-ud-din Mahmud Minister of Education (1970–1977),(1960-1963), Member of ParliamentAbdul Caffoor Mohamad Ameer 32nd Attorney General of Sri LankaShibly Aziz37th Attorney General of Sri LankaGovernor Western Province (2002–2015), Minister of Labour (2001–2002)Naina MarikkarMinister of Finance (1988–1989) Chancellor of the WUSL Chancellor of the SEUSLMember of Sri Lankan Parliament for national list (1989–1994, 2010–2014) Academic, Inductee- Global Management Accounting Hall of FameAmeer AliMinister of Disaster Relief Management (2007–2010), Member of Sri Lankan Parliament (2015–present)A. M. MerzaMember of Sri Lankan Parliament for Kalmunai (1952–1956)M. H. M. AshraffMinister of Ports, Shipping and Rehabilitation (1994–2000), Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament (1989–2000)M. L. M. AboosallyMember of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Minister of Labor, Rugby Player Retired Major General of the Sri Lankan Army Former Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Retired Senior Superintendent of Police Founder of Brandix Chairman and CEO of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Chairman and CEO of Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals CEO and Founder of CH17 Loyalty Managing Director of Hameedia, Founder of Envoy London Co-Founder of PickMe Senior General Manager of Dialog Chief Executive Officer of Softlogic Holdings Middle East, Chief Executive Officer of Softlogic Holdings RetailMujibur Rahman Member of Parliament - Colombo (2015–present) Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka (2005–2014) Senator - Senate of Ceylon Mayor of Colombo (2011–2016), Governor of Western Province (2019), Governor of North Western Province (2019–present)Rishad BathiudeenMinister of Industry and Commerce (2010–2019), Member of Sri Lankan Parliament for Vavuniya (2001–present) academic, physician Academic, Professor Jaffna University emeritus professor (Tamil studies), authorAcademic, Lawyer and Editor Thinakaran Academic (ICT), Head of the Department of Applied IT at SLTC Research University, Head of the Department of Multimedia at SLTC Research University, Member of Parliament - National List (2004–2015) Cabinet Minister for additional plantation crops (2007–2010) and Member of Parliament Monaragala (1989–2000, 2004–2010)M. M. ZuhairMember of parliament for the nationalist (1994–2000), Chairman Rupavahini and Sri Lankan Ambassador to IranFirst class cricketer (1940–1952) Member of the Sri Lanka National Rugby Team, Former Retired Senior Superintendent of Police Captain of Sri Lanka National Football Team Member of the Sri Lanka National Rugby TeamFirst class cricketer (1964–1967) First class cricketer (1960s)First class cricketer (2020–Present)
References
External links Official website The College Anthem