Taxila Central College, Horana, an educational institute with a rich history of over 70 years has played a yeoman role towards contributing good citizens for Sri Lanka. The school was established in 1940 on a small plot of land gifted by the renowned freedom fighter Arthur V Dias who was also a planter. Though at the beginning Taxila was restricted to a handful of students the school later shifted to its current location off Anguruwatota Road to an expanded land in 1955. The original land was placed with the Taxila Junior School.

The first shift saw more students entering the school. It began with 200 students and went on to reach 500 within weeks with nine teachers in service. Today the school educates over 3,700 students of both gender and the services of 160 devoted teachers is a blessing for Taxila to shine as a school in the forefront of all aspects.

With almost 10 sports and over 40 active societies and clubs the students of Taxila has a heap of activities under their belt to choose from. But tuition which is becoming a modern trend has attracted the parents more than the students who are keen on extra curricular activities. Before the emergence of tuition classes Taxila has farmed out an average of 200 students to universities in different subjects.
"Taxila produced its first student to the University in the arts stream back in 1951 and our first medical student passed out in 1975. Since then we have been progressing each year with a strong output to the institutions of higher education. That's a remarkable record to maintain," HKA Abeypala, the Principal said.

Each year students enter Taxila from its primary section but more students who succeed the fifth grade scholarship too join in. These facts have helped Taxila to sustain their good records at G.C.E. O/L and A/L examinations. However the introduction of a sports academy within the school has paid dividends to the school's effort in maintaining their stronghold at sports especially at athletics and kabaddi. With a very poor turnout from within the school to represent the sports teams, authorities of Taxila have found the sports academy concept as a timely solution for the setback.

Cadetting which was inaugurated in 1993 is another extra curricular activity that has captured the interest of students. Taxila has represented all major competitions including the coveted Herman Louise Shield. Many of these cadets have gone to the extent of serving the country at higher ranks in the armed forces.
"Our boys and girls are very keen in cadetting in spite of objection by many of the parents. But when these cadets achieve what is relatively impossible for a teenager these parents change their opinions.

inning has been a habit for cadets at Taxila since 1998 and our platoons were promoted to the President Class. It's pleasing to say that each year at least one of these cadets enter the Kotalawala Defence Academy," said Captain Wijegunawardena, the school's platoon officer for the past 18 years.
On extra curricular activities Taxila mainly engages at leading sports such as cricket, boxing, volleyball, netball, kabaddi, badminton, table tennis, swimming and athletics. Though cricket is popular among all Sri Lankans, Taxila plays the sport in Division II. But at volleyball and kabaddi, the boys and girls of Taxila are progressing at a rapid pace and are in a good state to challenge the leading schools around the country.

Athletics is one of their main attractions with almost every track and field event being represented by its athletes. However according to Abeypala who completes his 16th year at Taxila the recent two decades has been the best era for the school. The large playground also has assisted to this success.
"All these successes came during the past 20 years. But still as an emerging school we lack the services of well updated coaches. The school is in a good and able state to provide facilities to the students thanks to contributions from the Old Boys Association (OBA), well wishers and governmental funds," says Abeypala.

In addition most of the students of Taxila come from middle or low income families with a slightly considerable margin coming from less privileged family backgrounds. According to the principal Taxila introduced a sports academy to help the talented students of the school and around the area of Horana to make a solid career foundation in sports as well as studies.

"We invite students around this area studying in the seventh grade or above to join our sports academy. We seriously look into their sports talents. With our strong staff we can always improve these students' academic background but it's unlikely that our regular students who are good at studies could fill those gaps in sports teams. There are students who joined our sports academy, done well and even enter campus. So it's a win situation with the students," Abeypala explained.

The school's athletic coach Chandrika Sajeewani has been one of the key figures to maintain its dominance at national level. She is in charge of training a young setof boys and girls who enter the school through the sports academy concept. Taxila has produced many athletes to the national stream and one of their future prospects is hurdler Lahiru Prasanjeeth who established a new record at the recently concluded John Tarbet Meet.

"Lahiru has been selected to the initial pool to represent Sri Lanka in 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in England. We maintain a strong pool of 40 athletes but still struggle to attract newcomers. As a result many of these athletes also represent themselvesat other sports," Chandrika said.

Boxing is another sport striving to preserve its dominance as a result of poor participation. "Until recent times boxing was a leading sport at school. We have the strength to offer all the facilities except for the boxing ring. Despite these obstacles our boxers take pleasure in participating at all major competitions which in a way helps us to attract newcomers," the Master-in-charge Samantha Kumara said.
As an emerging school in the sports field Taxila possesses the will to develop their status. Abeypala elaborated that they are keen to provide the students a suitable environment to achieve more in extra curricular activities.