Bakeer Markar

Deshamanya Marhoom Al Haj Mohammed Abdul Bakeer Markar (12 May 1917 – 10 September 1997) was a Sri Lankan politician and civil servant. He was the speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the governor of Southern Province.

Early life and education Bakeer Markar was born on 12 May 1917 in "Hakeem Villa" at Maradana, Beruwala. His father Hakeem Alia Marikkar Mohomed Marikkar was a successful businessman while practicing Ayurvedic medicine and his mother was Rahila Umma Marikkar. His family traced its roots to one Sheik Jamaluddeen-Al-Maghdoomi, an Arab settler who settled down in the coastal town of Beruwala.

The young Bakeer Markar started his education at the local girls school in Beruwala before moving to Colombo at the age of seven to study at the St. Sebastian's School in Hulftsdorp. He then for his secondary education entered Zahira College, Colombo which was then under T. B. Jayah. At Zahira College he was the editor of the college magazine, president of the Muslim Majilis and the Tamil Literary Association.

Political career Local government He started his political career when he was elected member of the Beruwala Urban Council in 1947. He was subsequently elected as the Chairman of the Council. In 1950 he became the Mayor of the Beruwala Municipal Council. He transformed the East and West Municipal Council areas into one Municipal Area. Meanwhile, he was the first to pass a resolution in the Municipal Council that Sinhala should be the official language.

Speaker Bakeer Markar was thereafter elected the Deputy Speaker of the National State Assembly from 4 August 1977 to 7 September 1978, Then he was elected unanimously as the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, serving from 21 September 1978 to 30 August 1983. Later, he married Jazeela and they had four children, daughters Haseeba, Faseeha, Faheema and son Yazir.

He died on 10 September 1997 at the age of 80. Later he was buried in his home town of Beruwela.