Zahira College Colombo

The very first Private Muslim School in Sri Lanka, Zahira College was founded in 1892, as Al Madrasathul Zahira by two of the most prominent Sri Lankan Muslims of that time, namely I.L.M. Abdul Azeez and Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar who were both encouraged by Ahamed Orabi Pasha, a prominent Egyptian who was exiled in Sri Lanka. Today Zahira College is the largest Muslim educational institution in Sri Lanka with more than 4900 students and 250 teachers. The College which is situated in the heart of Colombo was built on the grounds adjoining one of the oldest mosques in Sri Lanka, the Maradana Mosque.

Zahira College Colombo which has been in existence for 121 years is a well established and well known School in Sri Lanka. Under the stewardship of Mr. M. Fouzul Hameed who took over as Chairman of the Board of Governors in 2006, a well co-ordinated programme to improve the standards of education, sports and extracurricular activities within the Islamic environment of the College has been carefully implemented with commendable success.

The present Principal Mr. A.R.M. Trizvi Marikkar has taken it as a challenge to improve the results further in the Year Five Scholarship, O’ Level and A’ Level examinations each year, and for that purpose he and his team have introduced a series of new steps. They are confident now that Zahira has an infra-structure that can compare with any one of the best schools in the Island and with a teacher cadre to match, the future of the current approximately 5000+ boys who are educated at Zahira will be bright.

In terms of the facilities fees regulations made by the Board of Governors, the fee must be paid for facilities and services provided by the college. This fee must be paid by the 10th of each month. Fees should be paid at the beginning of each term or for the whole year at the beginning of the year.

Parents’ meeting is held at the end of each term in order to discuss matters related to students’ performance. In addition, if any parents wish to meet the college authority they can do so on the last Thursday of every month from 9.00 a.m. to 12 noon. In such instances they should meet Director of Studies, Vice Principal or Sectional Heads. They should not directly meet the students or teachers. Parents who wish to communicate with the Principal are encouraged to use the ‘suggestions and complains’ box which is kept at the security office. No visitors will be allowed to enter the college premises without prior permission. Those who visit the school are strictly advised to be attired in decent dress keeping in mind that they enter an Educational institution