Peterites stun Australians as Vidyartha snatch last minute win over Malaysians in Centenary Sevens Source:Sundayobserver St. Peter’s College scored a shock win over the Australian team from the University of Technology in Sydney beating them by 24 points to 5 in their Centenary Rugby Sevens match at Bambalapitiya yesterday. The first half ended in a close 5-5 score but the Peterites out-ran and outsmarted the Australian boys in a one-sided contest in the second half. The Peterites started off the first day’s proceedings by smashing off Thurstan 29-0 and then went on to beat Zahira College 38-8 before taking on the foreign team. ...

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When Sheriff Brothers held sway in wrestling- by Rangi Akbar Source:Island At present pugilists and self-defense sports like karate, kung-fu and taekwondo have replaced wrestling among Sri Lanka’s youth. However in the 1950s and 1960s it was wrestling which was the popular sport in many schools and clubs Among the school wrestlers it was the boys from Zahira College, Colombo who dominated. Wrestlers from Zahira not only emerged national champions but also made a mark in international wrestling contests. Chief among these wrestlers from Zahira were the Sheriff Brothers – Ameen, Rasheed and Rauff. It was in early 1950 that the noble art of wrestling, called the ‘Catch -As-You-Can’ (British free-style wrestling) was introduced to Zahira due to the initiative of a few enthusiast youth, particularly Rasheed, Ameen, Rauff and Majeed Khalid under the guidance of coach L.M. Abdur Rahman, supported by the strong patronage of the Principal A.M.A. Azeez ...

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A.M.A. AZEEZ AND THE GLORY THAT WAS ZAHIRA-BY THALIF DEEN Source:Island Al Haj A.M.A. Azeez, one of the rare Muslim intellectuals of his generation was a scholar, a writer, an innovative thinker and an educationist with a sharp and perceptive mind. When he quit the elitist and prestigious Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) to take over Zahira College, Colombo, back in 1948, he sacrificed a potentially bright professional career in the cause of his community. If Al Haj T.B. Jayah, the first Principal, laid the foundation for Zahira, Azeez built the super-structure. The monumental achievements of Zahira in its heyday prompted a former Sri Lankan President to describe it as “one of the greatest public schools in our country”. Azeez died on November 24, 1973 at the age of 62. But his enduring intellectual legacy lives on. The first Muslim to enter the CCS, his contribution to Muslim education was immeasurable ...

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Zahira College Colombo unveils The Portrait of AL – HAJ DESAMANYA – Professor M.T.A FURKHAN Zahira College Honours Deshamanya Professor Tony Furkhan Perry & Yasmin (Toronto, Canada) were elated to read the tributes extended to Deshamanya Professor Tony Furkhan for his great feat. Perry was very fortunate to have been selected by him during his tenure as the Chief Accountant of Walker Sons & Company Ltd. . Perry & Yasmin were deeply humbled by his magnanimous and gracious gestures. All three Professionals have relayed deserving accolades which will go down the annals of Zahira College. May the Divine Almighty continue to Shower His Divine Blessings on him with many more years of Prosperity & Good Health – Perry [Toronto Canada] ...

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Only Rs.2,000 spent for Indira Gandhi’s visit in 1967-by L.B Senaratne G.N.S. Hameed – Former Kandy Mayor Source:Dailymirror I had the opportunity to meet the one time Mayor of Kandy G.N.S. Hameed who was the only Muslim to sit on the Mayor’s Chair in Kandy, who spent only Rs 2,000/= of Municipality funds for the Civic reception to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi when she visited Sri Lanka and then attended a Civic Reception by the Kandy Municipal Council on behalf of the people of Kandy on September 20, 1967- 54 years ago.   He celebrated his 82nd birthday on October 15. He also had the unique distinction as Deputy Mayor acting for the Mayor to receive the Venerable Sangharaja on February 15, 1967. ...

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Riffle shooter and rugby’s tanker falls silent Source:Dailymirror As a senior alumnus of Zahira College Colombo I am saddened to learn the demise of retired SSP Ibrahim Hamid on August 19. It was the dreadful COVID-19 that snatched away the precious life of the much-loved Al Haj Ibrahim Hamid. He was a gentleman ‘par excellence’ and a man of quiet and an affectionate disposition. As I recall, the late Hamid, who was fondly called ‘Tanker Hamid’ was a college rugby player and a rifle shooter. He was a few years senior to me. Punctual as usual and immaculately attired in uniform, I used to meet him at prayers in Colpetty Mosque. I remember him voluntarily briefing us on “final nuts and bolts” just before we left for senior cadet’s camp in Diyatalawa (1966-1977). ...

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Benedict Navaratne – the Prince of Wicket Keeprs – Zahira College & SSC – by Alston Mahadevan   Source: Alston Mahadevan FB  Ben Navaratne was the prince of wicket keepers. Benedict Navaratne (9 Jan 1915 – 9 June 1979) played for Zahira College before joining SSC. He made his international debut for Ceylon in 1940 when he was selected to tour India under the leadership of Sargo Jayawickrama. He made an unbeaten 23 on debut in the ‘unofficial’ Test match against India played at the Brabourne Stadium in Bombay from 31 December 1940. He was also selected to play against India in the three-day unofficial Test at the newly constructed Colombo Oval on 31 March, 1 and 2 April 1945. Navaratne like many young talented cricketers including Sathasivam and Bertie Wijesinha had very limited opportunities to play against Test playing nations for nearly 10 years due to the Second World ...

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Amjad Buksh one of the best scrum halves-Althaf Nawaz Source:Dailynews Kingswood College, Kandy is the pioneer institution which introduced Rugby in the country in 1891 and has been known as a rugby powerhouse. It has produced several top players who have brought honour and fame to Sri Lanka with their deeds on the rugby field. Amjad Buksh can be considered as one of the best players of Kingswood who played in the pivotal role of scrum half. He was the key link man between the forwards and the back division reaching great heights locally and internationally. Allowdeen Buksh is his father who passed away in 2007 and mother is Doreen Buksh and he has three siblings. His father was an old boy of Zahira College, Gampola and played hockey. He joined the Sri Lanka Navy as a Chief Engineer later retired and joined the Royal Navy in Oman . His ...

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Dashing winger Abdul Majeed brought honour and fame to Sri Lanka-by Althaf Nawaz Source:Dailynews Zahira College, Colombo has played a pivotal role in producing great academics as well as some quality sportsmen, who had a brilliant career beginning from school, club and then at International level bringing honour and fame to the country. Meera Sahibo Abdul Majeed was one of the greatest players produced by the school, who had an illustrious career in rugby   Majeed was born in Potuvil and his father was I.L. Meerasahibu Podiyaar well known as ‘Rasapodiyaar’ was the Ex. Chairman of Pottuvil Village Council(VC). His mother was Juwairiyathumma, the famous Arachchi Podiyaar’s daughter. His family consists of 12 children inclusive of five boys and seven girls where he was the seventh in the family. His wife was Ummu Salma and her father Mohamed Mustapha the Ex.Chairman of Pottuvil VC and Ex. Quazi(Judge). He has two sons ...

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