The school is mostly located in Piliyandala but also spreads towards Suwariyapola, occupying a total land area of about 48,000 m2 (520,000 sq ft). The facilities include lecture halls, science and ICT laboratories, an auditorium, a swimming pool complex and a cricket ground. Admission to the college is among the most competitive outside the Colombo city area in the Colombo district.[2] It gets its highest number of applications for admission to grade 6 via the grade 5 scholarship examination. A number of students from all over the area are also entered to grade 12 via the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination. Sport plays a significant part in college life. An annual cricket match between Central College Piliyandala and sporting rivals Taxila Central College, Horana, known as the Battle of the Salpiti-Raigam, has been held since 2001. Each student is assigned to one of four houses named after ancient Sinhala kings of Sri Lanka: Gemunu, Wijaya, Parakrama and Thissa.