Zahira College, Colombo 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. The College which has been in existence for over 125 years is a well established and a renown School in Sri Lanka. Spread over an eleven acre block of land in Maradana in the heart of Colombo, it has over the years been endowed with a number of buildings to house its infrastructure, a competition size Playground, Swimming Pool, Dental Clinic, Hostel, Canteen, Bookshop and Students Counseling Room. Practically all the buildings are well equipped with up to date furniture and fittings. The college also has one of the oldest mosques in the country in its premises. “Zahira” means Excellence in Arabic.