A major dispute has erupted within the Puttalam Municipal Council — in what many wryly describe as something that “could only happen in Sri Lanka.”
Puttalam Mayor Eng. Rinsad Ahamed has accused Councillor and Clean Nation Party (Thuya Desathirkana Katchi) Leader SM Isham Marikkar of falsely presenting himself as the Mayor of Puttalam during the Asia Pacific Cities Summit (APCS) 2025 in Dubai — a global forum exclusively meant for mayors, not for those merely aspiring to be one, mayoral sources told Jaffna Monitor.
The incident — which has left locals both laughing and shaking their heads — unfolded at Expo City Dubai between October 27 and 29, 2025.
Official Accusations
In a formal statement, the Puttalam Municipal Council, which is controlled by the National People’s Power (NPP), alleged that SM Isham Marikkar was listed in the official APCS 2025 participants’ roster as “Mayor – Puttalam Municipal Council” without any verification or approval from the council.
The council emphasized that Eng. Rinsad Ahamed remains the only duly elected and serving Mayor of Puttalam, and no authorization has been granted for anyone else to represent the municipality in any mayoral capacity internationally.
“This deceptive action constitutes a grave breach of public trust and contravenes political and administrative protocols,” the statement read. “It has inflicted reputational damage on both the institution and Sri Lanka’s image abroad.”
The council further confirmed that legal action has been initiated against both Mr. Marikkar and the APCS 2025 organizers, in coordination with Sri Lankan government officials and UAE authorities. It added that no adequate explanation has yet been provided by either the APCS 2025 committee or Expo City Dubai regarding how such an error occurred.
Sources say that APCS 2025 is no ordinary conference. While some packaged events for city leaders may charge high fees, the publicly listed registration for the summit shows “Mayor – Delegate Pass” at around USD 250 for early-bird rates.
“He has the connections and the money,” a senior municipal official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Jaffna Monitor. “What he doesn’t have is the title—or the authority.”
Councillor’s Defense
Mr. Isham Marikkar vehemently denied the allegations, insisting that he participated not as a mayor but as a “City Leader” representing Puttalam.
“I never presented myself as the Mayor,” Mr. Marikkar said. “The Mayor made no effort to seek clarification from me directly — instead, he spread misinformation.”
He further added with irritation:
“If the Mayor has an ego issue communicating with me, he could have used the Commissioner as an intermediary — but he chose not to.”
Meanwhile, the controversy has stirred both laughter and disbelief among Puttalam residents, who are closely following the unfolding drama.
One resident joked,
“We’re happy Puttalam has finally gone global — just not in the way we expected.”
Another resident told Jaffna Monitor with a grin,
“Here in Puttalam, we use the phrase ‘a real Puttalam thing’ when someone gets badly cheated — but this, this is the most Puttalam thing to ever happen on an international stage!”
