Arthur Jaysena (A.J.) Ranasinghe | |
|---|---|
| State Minister of Media | |
| In office 1989–1994 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1927 Madampe, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 4 May 2022 (aged 95) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality |  Sri Lankan |
| Political party | United National Party |
| Spouse | Seetha Ranasinghe |
| Children | Apsara Ranaweera, Asela Ranasinghe, Hasitha Ranasinghe, Nayesha Dunisinghe |
| Alma mater | Sivali Central College, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka |
| Occupation | Politics |
Arthur Jayasena Ranasinghe (4 January 1927 - 4 May 2022) (known as A. J. Ranasinghe) was a Sri Lankan politician, State Minister[1] and diplomat. In the third 1994 Sri Lankan presidential election he was an Independent candidate and polled 22,752 votes.[2] Ranasinghe was the first Director General of Tower Hall Theatre Foundation also he served as the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner to Canada and later served as State Minister of Media under President R. Premadasa's Government.
During the Premadasa regime, State Minister A. J. Ranasinghe used to be a master of worship and had no hesitation in extolling its virtues. Once when he was pictured prostrating before President Premadasa, his reaction was to say to the press, ” I will not only worship Ranasinghe Premadasa but will even lick his slippers, boil it and drink the broth as a soup’. The fact that he was called ‘serappu soupa’ after that was considered by him as a tag of honour. [1]
On May 4, 2022, A. J. Ranasinghe died in his home surrounded by his loved ones. His Pansukulaya was held on May 5, 2022.
See also
References
- ↑ Are you ready ?. The Island, Retrieved on 26 April 2010.
- ↑ 1994 Sri Lanka Presidential Elections. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.