The final rites of veteran Sri Lankan actor Jackson Anthony are scheduled to be performed on Thursday (Oct. 12).

The funeral will take place at the St. Peter & Paul’s Church in Ragama at 03.00 p.m., according to family sources.

Meanwhile, the remains of the mutch-loved actor will be placed at his private residence at No. 57, Wanigasooriya Watta, Ragama, Kadawatha.

The popular actor had been hospitalised since an accident on July 02, 2022. He had reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at the ICU of the Colombo National Hospital this morning (09). He was 65 at the time of passing.

Anthony and two other people including his younger brother Saman Anthony were injured after the vehicle they were travelling in had collided with a wild elephant at Thalawa.

They had reportedly been on their way back after finishing filming at the Haththikuchchi Viharaya in Galgamuwa when the vehicle had crashed against a wild elephant.

The vehicle was severely damaged in the crash while it is believed that the wild elephant might also have been critically wounded.

Anthony was later transferred from the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital to the National Hospital in Colombo, he underwent a seven-hour surgery in the intensive care unit and had been hospitalised since.

An esteemed actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater as well as television, Jackson Anthony is one of the most popular artists in Sri Lanka and had won the national award for the Best Actor for a record sixteen times.

He was also well-known for his immense talent and versatility as a director, producer, singer, screenwriter, television host, novelist, columnist, lyricist, historian and traveller.