Asoka Handagama was born in 1962 in South Sri Lanka He studied mathematics before working for Sri Lankas Central Bank He is considered as one of the Third Generation in Sri Lankan cinema Asoka Handagamas entry to filmmaking was via theatre and television His first two plays gained immediate recognition as they won several awards but he had his true breakthrough with Magatha He started to direct movies for television His debut feature Moon Lady won many awards but he gained international recognition with This is my Moon 2000