Perera ( si, පෙරේරා) is a common surname found in Sri Lanka and the

Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula (), ** * Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica'' ** ** * french: Péninsule Ibérique * mwl, Península Eibérica * eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, def ...

. The name was introduced in Sri Lanka by the

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

during the period of

Portuguese Ceylon Portuguese Ceylon ( pt, Ceilão Português, Sinhala: පෘතුගීසි ලංකාව ''Puruthugisi Lankawa'', Tamil: போர்த்துக்கேய இலங்கை ''Porthukeya Ilankai'') is the name given to the territory ...

, and it derives from the common

surname Pereira (meaning

pear tree Pears are fruits produced and consumed around the world, growing on a tree and harvested in the Northern Hemisphere in late summer into October. The pear tree and shrub are a species of genus ''Pyrus'' , in the family Rosaceae, bearing the po ...

). There are other variants in the Iberian Peninsula: Perer (

Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...

), Perero, Pereros (

Extremadura Extremadura (; ext, Estremaúra; pt, Estremadura; Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is an autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, it ...

Salamanca Salamanca () is a city in western Spain and is the capital of the Province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile and León. The city lies on several rolling hills by the Tormes River. Its Old City was declared a UNESCO World Herit ...

and

Valladolid Valladolid () is a municipality in Spain and the primary seat of government and de facto capital of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is also the capital of the province of the same name. It has a population around 300,000 peop ...

Pereyra Pereyra is a surname, a variant of Pereira, and also of Perera. Notable people with the surname include: *Abraham Israel Pereyra (died 1699), very wealthy and important "Portuguese merchant of the Jewish nation," who lived in Amsterdam *Bob Perey ...

, Pereyras, Das Pereiras, Paraira (

), Pereire, Pereyre (

Pyrenees The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to ...

), Pereiro, Pereiros ( Galician).

General

* Augurio Perera, Spanish pioneer of lawn tennis and a founder of the world's first tennis club * Ajith C. S. Perera, Sri Lankan academic, manager and cricket umpire *

Anura C. Perera Anura C. Perera (born 18 June 1947) is a Sri Lankan science writer and astronomer. He resides in the United States. Early life Perera was born in Colombo to parents Aleck Fedrick Perera and Dona Charlet Benaragama. He was educated at Nalanda ...

, Sri Lankan American Sinhala science writer and astronomer *

Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana Muhandiram Lansage Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (19 November 1809 – 24 January 1890) was a Sri Lankan businessman, a philanthropist and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement. He was the grandfather of Anagarika Dharmapala. He owned ext ...

, Sri Lankan businessman, philanthropist and pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement *

Cheryl Perera Cheryl Perera (born 1986) is a Canadian children's rights activist. As a teenager, she founded OneChild, a non-governmental organization which seeks to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children abroad. For her work, and in particu ...

(born 1986),

Sri Lankan Canadian Sri Lankan Canadians refers to people from Sri Lanka who have arrived and settled in Canada. Among these immigration, immigrants include members from the Sinhalese people, Sinhalese, Tamil people, Tamil, Sri Lankan Moors, Moor, Sri Lankan Malays, ...

children's rights activist * Elmo Noel Joseph Perera (1932-2015), 5th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galle * Frederica Perera (born 1941), American environmental health scientist * Izidor Perera-Matić, Croatian physician and partisan during World War II *

Lionello Perera Lionello Arturo Lopes Perera ( Leone Arturo Perera Lopez; June 25, 1871 – April 26, 1942) was a banker, philanthropist and patron of the arts and music, active in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Lionello Perera was born and grew ...

, Italian-American banker and philanthropist *

Nadeeka Perera Nadeeka Samanmali Perera ( Sinhala:නදීකා සමන්මලී පෙරේරා, born 22 Oct 1983) is a Sri Lankan fashion model born in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She competed in the Miss World 2005 pageant and has been crowned as "The Inte ...

, Sri Lankan model *

Sylvia Brinton Perera Sylvia Brinton Perera is an author and a Jungian analyst. Life and career Professional Qualified as a Jungian analyst, Perera is in private practice, counseling as a psychotherapist. Her earlier training included an MA in psychology; her undergra ...

, Jungian psychoanalyst and author

Arts

* Algama Koralalage Lionel Kumaradasa Perera (1935-2008), Sri Lankan Sinhala musician and composer *

Camillus Perera Kala Keerthi Camillus Perera is a Sri Lankan cartoonist. His cartoon characters like Gajaman and Siribiris have been published in various Sinhala newspapers ranging from the Sunday Observer to Sivdesa. Perera was invited to join the advisory boar ...

, Sri Lankan cartoonist * Chandralekha Perera, Sri Lankan Sinhala pop vocalist *

H. A. Perera Habarakadage Alosius Perera (10 May 1950 – 4 February 2010 as එච්. ඒ. පෙරේරා), popularly as H. A. Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre, and television. He is considered one of five actors who have dominated t ...

, Sri Lankan actor *

J. A. Milton Perera Jayasinghe Arachchige Milton Perera ( si, මිල්ටන් පෙරේරා; 5 May 1938 – 24 October 1991), popularly known as Milton Perera, was a singer, composer and playback singer of Sri Lankan cinema. One of the most respected art ...

, Sri Lankan singer * Ladislaus Perera Ranasinghe (1913-1983), Sri Lankan Sinhala actor * Lahiru Perera, Sri Lankan Sinhala musician, music producer *

Mahendra Perera Mahendra Shrikantha Perera (born 17 August 1956: si, මහේන්ද්‍ර පෙරේරා), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. One of the most influential actors in Sinhala cinema, Mahendra performed from ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhala actor * Mary Felicia Perera (born 1944), Sri Lankan Sinhala cinema actress * Mirihana Arachchige Nanda Perera, Sri Lankan singer * Nalin Perera (born 1969), Sri Lankan Sinhala singer-songwriter * Ranasinghe Arachchige Chandrasena Perera, Sri Lankan musician * Shirley Perera, Sri Lankan radio personality * Wannakulawattawaduge Don Albert Perera, Sri Lankan singer * Dennis Perera, Sri Lankan film director * Rukshan Perera, Sri Lankan Sinhala singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer * Sunil Perera, Sri Lankan Sinhala

Baila Baila (also known as bayila; from the Portuguese verb ''bailar'', meaning ''to dance'') is a form of music, popular in Sri Lanka and among Goan Catholics. The genre originated centuries ago among the Portuguese Burghers and Sri Lankan Kaffirs. B ...

vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and composer * Vicumpriya Perera, Sri Lankan Sinhala lyricist, poet, and music producer * Koddul Arachchige Wilson Perera (1926-2006), Sri Lankan Sinhala director

Politics, military and state officials

* Alexander Perera Jayasuriya (1901-1980), Sri Lankan Sinhala MP and Cabinet Minister * Andrew Ranjan Perera, Sri Lankan judge *

Christopher Allan Hector Perera Jayawardena Brigadier Christopher Allan Hector Perera Jayawardena (1898-1986) was a Demographics of Sri Lanka, Ceylonese forest conservator, military officer and socialite. He was a Senior Assistant Conservator of Forests, Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II, Aide- ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhala army officer * Cyril E. S. Perera (1892-1968), Sri Lankan Sinhala member of the Ceylon House of Representatives *

Denis Perera General Deshamanya Joseph Everard Denis Perera, VSV, FCMI (10 October 1930 – 11 August 2013) was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer who served as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1977 to 1981. He was also the Sri Lankan High Commissioner ...

, Sri Lankan Army officer *

Dick Perera Air Chief Marshal Dick Cuthbert Perera VSV was the 6th Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force. Educated at St. Benedict's College, Colombo Perera joined the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force on 21 September 1951 in the first batch of locall ...

, 6th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force *

Donald Perera Air Chief Marshal G Donald Perera VSV, USP is a Sri Lanka air officer who served as commander of the Air Force from 2002 to 2006 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 2006 to 2009. He served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel. Early life and ed ...

, Sri Lankan Air Force officer * Edmund Walter Perera Seneviratne Jayawardena, Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and diplomat * Edward George Perera Jayetileke,

Chief Justice of Sri Lanka The Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head of the judiciary of Sri Lanka and the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Established in 1801, the Chief Justice is one of ten Supreme Court justices; the other nine are t ...

from 1950-1952 *

E. W. Perera Edward Walter Perera (11 December 1875 – 15 February 1953) was a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) barrister, politician and freedom fighter. He was known as the "Lion of Kotte" and was a prominent figure in the Sri Lankan independence movement, served ...

, Sri Lankan politician * Edwin Aloysius Perera Wijeyeratne, Sri Lankan politician and diplomat *

Ernest Perera Ernest Edward Boniface Perera (29 November 1932 – 16 August 2013) was the 23rd Inspector General of the Sri Lanka Police, serving between 1988 and 1993. Ernest Edward Boniface Perera was born on 29 November 1932 in Dalugama, a suburb of Col ...

(1932-2013), Inspector-General of Sri Lanka Police from 1988-1993 * Felix Perera, Sri Lankan politician * Felix Stanley Christopher Perera Kalpage (died 2000),

Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations The Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations is Sri Lanka's foremost diplomat, diplomatic representative to the United Nations, and in charge of the country's mission to the UN. The position of Permanent Representative is equiva ...

from 1991-1994 * Henry Perera, 8th Commander of the

Sri Lanka Navy ta, இலங்கை கடற்படை , image = Sri Lanka Naval Seal.png , image_size = 180px , caption = Emblem of Sri Lanka Navy , dates = , c ...

Janaka Perera Major General Janaka Perera, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, VSP, rcds, psc, CR (1 February 1946 – 6 October 2008) was a Sri Lankan General and politician. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and is considered one of the most d ...

, Sri Lankan General and politician * Jayantha Perera, 19th Commander of the

Sri Lanka Navy ta, இலங்கை கடற்படை , image = Sri Lanka Naval Seal.png , image_size = 180px , caption = Emblem of Sri Lanka Navy , dates = , c ...

Joseph Michael Perera M. Joseph Michael Perera is a Sri Lankan politician (born 15 September 1941) and a Former Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He is the 17th Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka The Speaker of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialis ...

, 24th

Minister of Home Affairs An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...

of Sri Lanka *

Jude Perera Jude Perera (born 27 May 1953) is a former Australian politician who served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2018, representing the seat of Cranbourne for the Labor Party. Perera was born in Sri Lanka, and receiv ...

, member for Cranbourne District of

Victorian Legislative Assembly The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia; the upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The presidin ...

, Australia * M. J. Perera, Sri Lankan high-civil servant *

Monath Perera Squadron Leader Monath Erash Perera was a fighter pilot who served in the No. 10 Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Born on 13 October 1982 in Galle, he completed his education at Mahinda College in Galle. Perera joined the Sri Lanka Air Forc ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhala

Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...

fighter pilot * Neomal Perera, Sri Lankan politician *

Noemí Santana Perera Noemí Santana Perera (born 1984) is a member of the Podemos party and its spokesperson in the Parliament of the Canary Islands. Early life Born in Las Palmas on 31 January 1984, Perera attended the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULP ...

, a member of the Podemos party of Spain *

N. M. Perera Nanayakkarapathirage Martin Perera, commonly known as Dr. N. M. Perera ( Sinhala එන්.එම්.පෙරේරා ; 6 June 1904 – 14 August 1979), was one of the leaders of the Sri Lankan Trotskyist Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP). He w ...

, Sri Lankan politician * Reginald Perera (1915-1977), Sri Lankan Sinhala Trotskyist * Roberto Smith Perera, Venezuelan politician * Rohini Perera Marasinghe, Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka *

Selina Perera Selina Margaret Perera (née ''Peiris'') (1909 – 1986) was a Sri Lankan socialist and Trotskyite. She was a founding member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and party secretary. She was married to Dr N. M. Perera, who became the leader of ...

(1909-1986), Sri Lankan Sinhala Trotskyist * Don Stanley Ernest Perera Rajapakse Senanayake , Inspector-General of Sri Lanka Police from 1970-1978 * Sumedha Perera, Sri Lankan Sinhala army major general *

Theodore Duncan Perera Theodore Duncan Perera, CMG (born 28 May 1895) was a Ceylonese civil servant who served as the Secretary of the Treasury from December 1950 to March 1951 and Deputy High Commissioner for Ceylon in the United Kingdom. Graduated with an LL.B. from ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhala civil servant *

Victor Perera Victor Perera was the first Governor of Northern Province and former Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police. Police career Perera joined the Sri Lanka Police Service in 1974 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police. Serving as the most senio ...

, Governor of Northern Province, Sri Lanka from July 2008 – October 2008

Sports

* Amila Perera, Sri Lankan cricketer * Augurio Perera, Anglo-Spanish tennis player *

Bathiya Perera Wagawattage Maithree Bathiya Perera (born 28 April 1977) is a former Sri Lankan first class cricketer. A right-handed batsman and part-time leg break bowler, he has represented Sri Lanka A at international level. Perera impressed in the unde ...

, Sri Lankan cricketer * Chandrishan Perera (1961-2021), Sri Lankan Sinhala rugby union player, coach, commentator, journalist, lawyer and administrator * Derek Perera, Sri Lankan Canadian cricketer * Dilruwan Perera, Sri Lankan cricketer * Domènec Balmanya Perera, Spanish footballer * Duminda Perera, Sri Lankan cricketer *

Franck Perera Franck Perera (born 21 March 1984 in Montpellier, France) is a race car driver who has competed in a number of international open-wheel racing championships. Career In 2006, Perera drove in the GP2 Series for the DAMS team, after four years of ra ...

, French race car driver *

Gamini Perera Kahawalage Gamini Perera (born 22 May 1964) is a former Sri Lankan cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each compri ...

, Sri Lankan cricketer * Hasini Perera (born 1995), Sri Lankan Sinhala cricketer * João Manuel Perera Junqueira, Portuguese runner * José Jesús Perera, Spanish footballer * Kalana Perera, Sri Lankan Cricketer *

Kusal Perera Mathurage Don Kusal Janith Perera ( si, කුසල් පෙරේරා) (born 17 August 1990), more commonly known as Kusal Perera, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer and a former limited overs Captain of Sri Lanka national cricket team. ...

, Sri Lankan Cricketer * Mahesh Perera, Sri Lankan Sinhala Olympic hurdler * Nimesh Perera, Sri Lankan cricketer * Peter Perera, Sri Lankan cricketer *

Ruchira Perera Panagodage Don Ruchira Laksiri Perera (born 6 April 1977), commonly as Ruchira Perera is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, who played all formats. He is a left-handed batsman and a left-arm medium-fast bowler. International career A lively bowler, ...

, Sri Lankan cricketer * S. Perera (Old Cambrians cricketer), Sri Lankan cricketer *

Suresh Perera Anhettige Suresh Asanka Perera (born 16 February 1978), known as Suresh Perera, is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer. A right-handed all-rounder, he played three Test cricket, Test and 20 One Day International (ODI) matches for the Sri ...

, Sri Lankan cricketer *

Thisara Perera Narangoda Liyanaarachchige Thisara Chirantha Perera ( si, තිසර පෙරේරා; born 3 April 1989), popularly as Thisara Perera, is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer who played all formats for the national team. He also cap ...

, Sri Lankan cricketer * Viraj Perera, Sri Lankan cricketer * Wimalasena Perera (born 1945), Sri Lankan Sinhala long-distance runner {{surname Sinhalese surnames Surnames of Sri Lankan origin