CHINNA LEBBE MARIKAR
Ismail Lebbe Marikar Sultan Marikar

Ismail Lebbe Marikar Sultan Marikar of Galle, received an elementary education but could converse in English fluently. He was able to write in Sinhala and Gujarati.

Sultan Marikar moved among Europeans in the business circles in Colombo and was also well known to the Borah merchants who were involved in the import and export trade, viz; TAJ Noorbhai, Carimjee Jafferjee, EG Adamaly, MSH AbdulAli Bhai, MSH Hebthulabhoy. In his export business he was closely connected to Dodwell & Company.

Sultan Marikar was well known and recognized as a planter in the 19th century and he had most of his business transactions in Tea and Rubber with M/S Bartleet & Company, Auctioneers & Brokers and also with JL Ross & Co, of Captains Gardens, Galle. He was a landed proprietor and owned a number of estates among which were: Noorani at Padukka, 200 acres planted with tea, rubber and coconuts, Meepilawa at Puwakpitiya, 160 acres with tea and rubber, purchased from Lady De Soysa. In 1902 some of his rubber fetched Rs 15/- a pound which was a record prize.

Sultan Marikar was said to have transferred, in trust, a tea, rubber, and coconut estate of 250 acres near galle to the late Al Haj Ahamed Ismail.

He was a trustee of the two famous Thakiyya's in Ceylon - Bukhari Thakkiya of Beruwela and Mubarak Thakkiya of Talapitiya, Galle. He played a prominent role in the Fez issue in 1905 along with ILM Abdul Azeez, MC Siddi Lebbe and SL Mahmood Hajiar, when Advocate Abdul Cader of Kattankudi was not allowed to appear before the Bench with his Fez on. Abdul cader politely refused to carry out the behests of the Chief Justice and withdrew from the Court.
Sultan Marikar founded a Company with JL Ross in England, the prospectus of which was issued the very day of his death in 1911.