Peiris

Peiris, Peries or Pieris (Sinhalese: පීරිස්) is a surname attributed to the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka. It is a common surname in the coastal regions of the island nation.

The name originated from the Portuguese surname Peres, and was spread across Sri Lanka during Portugal's colonization of the country. It is related to the Spanish variant Pérez, and Jewish variant Peretz. The name has been adapted into the Sinhalese language over time, hence the variation in its spelling.

Notable people with the surname include:

Albert Peries (1905–1967), Ceylonese politician
Ivan Peries (1921–1988), Sri Lankan painter
Lester James Peries (1919–2018), Sri Lankan film director
Sumitra Peries (1935–2023), Sri Lankan film director
Amal Peiris (born 1985), Sri Lankan cricketer
Bernard Peiris (1908–1977), Ceylonese lawyer
Chathurika Peiris (born 1981), Sri Lankan actress
Eardley Peiris, Ceylonese broadcaster
Edmund Peiris, Ceylonese headman
Edmund Peiris, Sri Lankan clergyman, 2nd Bishop of Halawata
G. L. Peiris (born 1946), Sri Lankan academic and politician
Harold Peiris (1905–1981), Ceylonese lawyer
Hiranya Peiris (born 1974), British astrophysicist
J. B. Peiris, Sri Lankan physician
James Peiris (1856–1930), Ceylonese politician
M. V. P. Peiris (1898–1988), Ceylonese surgeon and politician
Malik Peiris (born 1949), Hong Kong physician and academic
Milinda Peiris, Sri Lankan army officer
Mohan Peiris, Sri Lankan lawyer and judge
Ruwin Peiris (born 1970), Sri Lankan cricketer
Sachintha Peiris (born 1995), Sri Lankan cricketer
Stanley Peiris (1941–2002), Sri Lankan musician
Walikalage Sarath Peiris Jayawardene (born 1969), Sri Lankan Sinhala cricketer
Ernest Victor Pieris (1926–1991), Sri Lankan physician, medical educator, cricketer and rugby player
Mevan Pieris (born 1946), Sri Lankan cricketer
Nehara Pieris, Sri Lankan actress
Justin Pieris Deraniyagala (1903–1967), Sri Lankan Sinhala painter