| Zahira College (National School) Matale | |
| Motto: | Live in Light |
| Gender: | Male (Boys) |
| Principal: | Siddique Najeen |
| Head Name: | Second Master |
| Head Name2: | Assistant Headmaster |
| Enrollment: | 2,000 |
| Grades: | 1 - 13 |
| Streetaddress: | Tharalanda Road |
| Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Coordinates: | 7.4769°N 80.6267°W |
| Colours: | Green and gold |
| Houses: | Azad, Iqbal, Jayah, Jinnah |
| Website: | (Maintained by the O.B.U/ Old Boys’ Union of the college) |
| Alumni: | Zahirians |
Zahira College (National School) Matale, (Arabic: Zahira means "Excellence"; ta|சாஹிரா தேசிய கல்லூரி|translit=; si|සහිරා ජාතික පාසල|translit=), is one of the oldest schools in the Matale District. It is situated in the centre of the city.
The school was founded on 3 August 1942 by Tuan Burhanuddin Jayah.[1] [2] The original 4.5ha school site was donated by Vithanage Tergin Nanayakkara, the local member for Matale. The first buildings were funded by a donation from a local Muslim philanthropist, Cassim Had Sar.[3]
The school is noted for its accomplishments in the field of hockey, winning a number of national schoolboy championships.[4] [5] Hockey was first introduced to the school by a local businessman, George Mant, who learnt the sport at St. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. Mant with a number of other enthusiasts established the Matale Hockey Association in September 1942. The school has produced a number of national players, including S. I. Ajward, M. Ayub, M. Zarook, and A. J. M. Farook.
The houses compete to win the inter-house games held by the college annually.
| House | Color |
|---|---|
| Azad | |
| Iqbal | |
| Jayah | |
| Jinnah | |
| Principal | Arrived | Departed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. S. Sally | ||||
| A. R. M. Nilam | ||||
| S. Rauf Pasha | ||||
| A. V. Ponnusaami | ||||
| Anif Doray | ||||
| M. V. Mathai | ||||
| S. H. A Wadood | ||||
| A. Z. Omerdeen | ||||
| A. C. M. Zeirideen | ||||
| S. H. A. Wadood | ||||
| A. M. Rakeem | ||||
| A. A. M. Fuaji | ||||
| A. C. M. Zeirideen | ||||
| A. A. M. Fuaji | ||||
| T. Uzair | ||||
| A. J. M. Farook | ||||
| M. Azeez | ||||
| K. M. Buharideen | ||||
| M. I. Thaibdeen | ||||
| K. M. Buharideen | ||||
| J. M. Nisfer | ||||
| Kamil Sarap | ||||
| J. M. Iqbal | ||||
| Abdul Kalam | ||||
| Siddique Najeen | ||||