ISMAIL LEBBE MARIKAR SULTAN MARIKAR

ILM Sultan Marikar received an elementary education but could converse in English fluently. He was able to read and write in Sinhala and Gujarati.

Sultan Marikar moved among Europeans in the commercial circle and was also well-known to the Borah merchants, such as TAJ Noorbhai, Carimjee Jefferjee, EG Adamally, MSH Abdul Ali Bhai, MSH Hibthulla Bhai, in the export and import trade. He was closely associated with Dodwell & Company in his export business.

Sultan marikar was a well-known and recognized planter in the 19th century who had most of his business transactions in Tea & Rubber with Bartleet & Company, Auctioneer’s & brokers, and also with JL Ross & Company, of Captains Garden, Galle. He was a landed proprietor and owned a number of estates among which were, Noorani at Padukka, 200 acres planted with tea and rubber and coconuts, Meepilawa in Puwakpitiya, 160 acres with tea and rubber purchased from Lady De Soysa. In 1902, some of his rubber fetched Rs 15/- per pound which was considered a record prize for the commodity.

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 two famous Thakiyas in Ceylon, Bukhari Thakkiya or Beruwela and Mubarak Thakkiya of Talapitiya in 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 wearing his Fez Cap. 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 on the very day of his death in 1911.