History

Zahira College, Colombo, the Premier Educational Institution and is the very first Muslim school in Sri Lanka and was founded in 1892 as Al Madrasathul Zahira by two of the most prominent Sri Lankan Muslims of the day, I. L. M. Abdul Aziz and Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar, with the active patronage of Ahmed Orabi Pasha of Egypt. It is currently the largest Muslim educational institution in Sri Lanka with more than 4000 students studying there. The college is situated in the heart of Colombo city Celebrates 120 years of Excellence in 2011. Along with this long journey, it had seen many great successes. Zahira College has indeed produced great personalities not only to the country but to the world.

The idea of school mainly for Muslims was conceived by visionaries at a time, such as Proctor M. C. Siddi Lebbe of Kandy, when circumstances were positively hostile to English education due to the reasons where English education was very much associated with proselytism. At this juncture in the history of Sri Lanka, almost all the schools in the country were run by Christian missionaries. Because Sri Lanka had not won its independence from the British Empire an almost state-aided conversion submerged other communities. Nevertheless, Muslim pioneers in education were more than satisfied that Islam would weather assaults at conversion but that education was essential for the Muslim community’s progress if not its very survival. Thus did Zahira make its first small steps on Monday, 22 August 1892.

Zahira College Colombo OBA Qatar was formed in 2009 with the collective effort of the current office bearers to gather all past students under one umbrella to assist our Alma mater in being the best of Educational Institute in Sri Lanka and to foster social intercourse among Old Boys of the college as well as Sri Lankans community residing in Qatar. Since its inception of the association strive and work hard to keep interaction among Zahirians’ living in Qatar and help the college and society as whole to uphold living standard at the highest level as possible. The association is affiliated with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Qatar.

Objective

Gather all past students who are residing in Qatar under one umbrella to strive towards to make Alma mater one of the best Educational Institute in Sri Lanka and to foster social intercourse among Old Boys of the college as well as Sri Lankans community residing in Qatar.

Moto:

“Together We Stand”

Members:

Past Students of Zahira College Colombo & as of July 2014 there are 160 members.

Affiliation:

Zahira College Colombo OBA Qatar Is affiliated to Sri Lankan Embassy in Qatar & His Excellency the Ambassador is the Patron of the association.