ABDUL AGEED MOHAMED MARLEEN was born on the 16^th of November 1938. Being 0ne of 12 children from a poor family, life was always a struggle and he had to overcome much difficulty and hardship growing up. Being the oldest brother, responsibility and leadership came at a very young age.  He was someone who always worked for a cause, never rested, was always on the go, and always believed that serving our community and country is a chief duty of all mankind.  Late Mr. Marleen was a lawyer by profession and excelled not only in the Courts of Law in Sri Lanka but also in representing Sri Lanka in Foreign Policy. He was conferred the title of President’s Counsel by Her Excellency the President of Sri Lanka on 12^th March 2001,  a title granted only to those who have reached eminence in the profession and have maintained high standards of conduct and professional rectitude.

He was appointed as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in March 2008 and was the Ambassador there until his sudden demise in Sanaa, Yemen while representing Sri Lanka at a conference on 23^rd June 2009.

Mr. Marleen is survived by his wife, four children and six grandchildren.

Mr. Marleen, despite a large clientele and a very lucrative practice, still made available his valuable time for the progress and advancement of the disadvantaged in Sri Lanka as a philanthropist.

Mr. Marleen enrolled as a member of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home in the 1972 and rose to become the president on 4th march 1992 and continued to be the president for a period of over 16 years.

Mr. Marleen was the first in Sri Lanka to have the Holy Quran Translated in Sinhalese and made 15,000 copies available to the public though the courtesy of the Al Nahyan Humanitarian Foundation in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

He inaugurated a Janaza (Funeral) Service by the MICH for those who wish to avail the facility to transport Janaza from the Residence to Burial Grounds at an affordable cost.

His greatest achievement as the President of MICH was the six story Girls Hostel and an Activity Center at Lily Avenue, in Sri Lanka with the initial funds being received from Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, wife of the the UAE president through the courtesy of the UAE Embassy in Sri Lanka. The Home has named the Reception Hall of this building after him as the “A.A.M. Marleen Hall.”

The Lady Fareed Home for Elders was another project that the late Mr. Marleen was determined to develop and thanks to the generous assistance of the benefactor Haji Eliyas Abdul Kareem, this Elders Home became a reality in the 2007.

As a Social Worker he was also the President of the All Ceylon Moors Association and many other social service organisations which he represented.

He was the Secretary General of the Afro Asian Association of Sri Lanka, a body affiliated to the Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organisation (AAPSO) the headquarters of which is based in Cairo.

He also represented the following organizations in the capacity of.

• President of Sri Lanka–Saudi Friendship  Association.
• Vice President of Sri Lanka-Arab Friendship and Economic Association.
• Vice President of Sri Lanka-Hungary Friendship Association.
• Vice President of Sri Lanka – Russia  Friendship Association.
• He was also the of Chairman of the Board of Governors of Zahira College, Colombo.

Due to his special knowledge on International Law he was elected as the Chairman of the United Nations Special Committee to investigate into Israeli Practices affecting Human Rights in the  Occupied Territories for 1988.

He also led the Sri Lankan delegation to the 7th Congress of AAPSO in New Delhi, which was inaugurated by Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. AAPSO enjoys the observer status with the United Nations as well as the Non-Aligned movement.

He represented many at conferences in the former Soviet Union, Palestine,  Cairo, Geneva, and many other cities and during his visits he always made it a point to meet officials around the world to promote the growth of Sri Lanka.

He cared for the disadvantaged, under privileged and took great pride and pleasure in representing the weak and poor. He always stood for that which is right and always said the right path was not always the easy path but it is always the path that leads to success. He cared for his country, men, women, youth and old alike of Sri Lanka.

Above all he was a great father, husband and a role model to his family and others around him.  His demise was of great loss to his family and community alike. He will always be remembers in our thoughts and prayers. May Almighty Allah give him abode in Jennathul Firdhous (Highest Level of Paradise in the hereafter). Ameen!