Harold Peiris

Harold Peiris (1904–1981) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, author, scholar, teacher, patron of the arts, and philanthropist. He was the co-founder of the Lionel Wendt Art Centre and its sole life-trustee. He is sometimes confused with Harry Pieris, a cousin and contemporary, who was a member of the Colombo '43 Group of artists and established the Sapumal Foundation.

Born to a celebrated wealthy aristocratic family, he was the only son of Charles Peiris, the younger brother of the more famous Sir James Peiris, and Maude de Mel, who was a sister of Sir Henry de Mel. He was a great-grandson of Sir Charles Henry de Soysa. Educated at Royal College, Colombo and St. John's College, Cambridge, Harold graduated with a degree in law and became a barrister at Lincoln's Inn.

Harold Peiris was married first in 1928 to Leah, daughter of S. W. Dassenaike, a retired Public Works Department engineer and a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon, and second to Alicia "Peggy" Keyt sister of the artist George Keyt in 1940. The Nelung Arts Centre was founded by his niece Niloufer Peiris. Peiris is sometimes confused with Harry Pieris, a member of the Colombo '43 Group, who founded the Sapumal Foundation in 1974 to which he bequeathed his house and art collection.