Known as the Crowned King of Sri Lankan Cinema, Gammana Patabendige Don John ''Joe'' Abeywickrama (1927 - 2011) was one of the finest actors of the Sri Lankan film industry. He is the first Sri Lankan actor to win the Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Actor at the 1999 Singapore International Film Festival for his performance in the movie Pura Handa Kaluwara. In six decades of his acting career, Abeywickrama acted in 172 films and won 18 Sarasavi Awards.