Junius Richard Jayewardene (September 17; 1906 - November 1; 1996); famously abbreviated in Sri Lanka as JR; was the first executive President of Sri Lanka; serving from 1978 till 1989. He was a leader of the nationalist movement in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) who served in a variety of cabinet positions in the decades following independence. Before taking over the newly created executive presidency; he served as the Prime minister of Sri Lanka between 1977 and 1978.