Quick Facts
Biography
Casila Abdul Samed Marikkar (5 July 1911 – ) was a Sri Lankan politician of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party who served as Minister for Post, Broadcasting and Communication from 1956 until 1960 in the cabinets of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and Wijeyananda Dahanayake. He was the first Muslim minister from the SLFP but didn't enjoy much support within the party. During his term Marikkar aimed to set up a Sri Lankan telephone parts factory with Japanese help to provide cheaper telecommunications service.
Marikkar was a skilled orator who often worked the crowds before public appearances of party chief Bandaranaike. He enjoyed publicity and in 1959 rode to a party convention on the back of an elephant, creating a diversion from the criticism of the Bandaranaike government.
Marikkar was accused of bribery on 17 counts, also by a corrupt Buddhist monk. He went on to clear himself from all accusations.