Zahira College, Matale

Zahira College (National School) Matale, (Tamil: சாஹிரா தேசிய கல்லூரி; Sinhala: සහිරා ජාතික පාසල), is one of the oldest Muslim schools in the Matale District. It is situated in the centre of the city.

Zahira College (National School) Matale
Location
Matale , Central Province Sri Lanka
Coordinates	7°28′37″N 80°37′36″E
Information
Type	Government
Motto	Live in Light
Established	3 August 1942
School district	Matale District
Principal	Siddique Najeen
Grades	1 - 13
Gender	Male (Boys)
Enrollment	2,000
Houses	Azad, Iqbal, Jayah, & Jinnah
Colour(s)	Green & Gold
Affiliation	Islam
Alumni	Zahirians
Website	zahiracollegematale.com (Maintained by the O.B.U/ Old Boys’ Union of the college)

History

The college was founded on 3 August 1942 by Tuan Burhanuddin Jayah, a leader of the Muslim community and prominent pre-independence politician. He initiated this college during the colonial period to revive the Sri Lankan Muslim community and to uplift the quality of education among the Sri Lankan Muslim youths.

Houses

House	Colour	Named after
Azad	Green	Pakistan administered region, Azad Kashmir
Iqbal	Blue	Pakistani poet Muhammad Iqbal
Jayah	Yellow	Sri Lankan Muslim revivalist Tuan Burhanuddin Jayah
Jinnah	Red	Pakistani independence leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah

The houses compete to win inter-house games annually.

Past Principals

Principal	Arrived	Departed
T. S. Sally	03-08-1942	29-06-1943
A. R. M. Nilam
S. Rauf Pasha
A. V. Ponnusaami
Anif Doray		1947
M. V. Mathai	28-08-1947	27-08-1961
S. H. A Wadood	28-08-1961	31-05-1965
A. Z. Omerdeen	01-06-1965	15-02-1968
A. C. M. Zeirideen	16-02-1968	07-12-1970
S. H. A. Wadood	07-12-1970	27-04-1976
A. M. Rakeem	28-04-1976	22-11-1977
A. A. M. Fuaji	23-11-1977	30-11-1979
A. C. M. Zeirideen	01-12-1979	01-03-1985
A. A. M. Fuaji	01-03-1985	31-12-1990
T. Uzair	01-01-1991	24-09-1994
A. J. M. Farook	24-09-1994	19-04-1996
M. Azeez	19-04-1996	31-07-1998
K. M. Buharideen	01-08-1998	05-11-1999
M. I. Thaibdeen	11-02-2000	12-11-2003
K. M. Buharideen	13-11-2003	20-03-2006
J. M. Nisfer	20-03-2006	15-06-2006
Kamil Sarap	16-06-2006	02-08-2007
J. M. Iqbal	02-08-2007	01-09-2018
Abdul Kalam	01-09-2018	15-08-2019
Siddique Najeen	15-08-2019	present

Notable alumni

Alumni	Notability
Mohamed Ehuttar Hadjiar Maharoof	Member of Parliament - Mutur (1977-1989), Trincomalee (1989-1997)
Abdul Cader Shahul Hameed	Member of Parliament - Akurana (1960-1970), Harispattuwa (1970-1999); Minister of Foreign Affairs (1978-1989, 1993-1994); Minister of Justice (1989-1993)

References