Career
He is known as the Lover of the 70s in Sri Lankan cinema due to the many popular films in which he acted. He was mostly restricted to innocent main role which is full of glamour and feelings. He died on 16 June 2015 at a public hospital in Colombo at the age of 77.
According to critics, he is the last Crowned king in Sri Lankan cinema to die after Gamini Fonseka and Joe Abeywickrama.
He has acted in 115 films, in 43 of which he was the leading actor and in 72 of which he played a supporting role. He also contributed as a script writer in 2 films.
Ranasinghe Hettiarachchilage Ignatius Anthony Silva, who later became popular as Tony Ranasinghe, was born July 31, 1937 in Modara. He studied at Saint Anthony"s College, Wattala, and De LaSalle College, Modera.
This award was presented by minister T. B. Ilangaratne.
Ranasinghe made his film debut with Lester James Peries" Gamperaliya (1964) and followed it with Ran Salu. He worked with Peries again on Delovak Athara, in which he had the starring role.