Peiris to make second attempt to reach summit of Mount Everest
Mountaineer Johann Peiris is to make a second attempt to reach the top of Mount Everest in April, it was announced at a press briefing on Wednesday attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Peiris earlier partnered with Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala when she become the first Sri Lankan to summit the mountain in May 2016.
During the 2016 attempt Peiris fell short due to his oxygen tanks malfunctioning.
As a result Johann Peries on Wednesday announced the launch of ‘Climb with Johann’ a campaign to support his journey to conquer the mountain.
This year Johann has decided to make a public climb where any Sri Lankan can sponsor each step that Johann takes on the mountain. Each step of Johann is valued at Rs.100 with an estimated 80,000 steps in total to be taken to arrive at the summit. Donations can be made via http://www.johanneverest2018.com
An Everest expedition requires a large financial commitment and every sponsored step will be go towards financing the expedition and all associated costs. The total cost for the expedition is forecast to be approximately US$ 58600.
An artist inspired by nature, Johann is a hair-designer by profession and adventurer by choice. He is the only Sri Lankan male to reach an altitude of 8,400m / 27,559ft, which he achieved on 21 May 2016 on Mt Everest.
His passion for the great outdoors and his creative soul has struck a perfect balance and is evident in his work, life and interests.
Johann began his hair-designing career 25 years ago. Opting for originality over formulaic, he soon became popular as one of the best hair-designers in the country. Taking his innate flair in the beauty and fashion culture a step further, he re-established the local industry to meet international standards by introducing new concepts in bridal-designs, attire conceptualizing and make-up.
Today he is one of the most sought after hair and beauty designers, and amongst the few Sri Lankans in the industry to be globally acclaimed. Presently he runs three salons, two in Colombo and one in London. His career as an artist began long before his venture into the fashion industry; initially as a professional singer with Mary Anne Singers spanning over 20 years, as an actor in the local English theatre, and as a professional dancer competing and performing at local and international competitions.
Johann’s interest in exploring the great outdoors was impressed upon him at a very young age by his father, when the duo regularly explored the Knuckles Mountain range in Sri Lanka. The passion thus instilled in him, drives him to conquer mountains both in Sri Lanka and around the globe. His first exploration out of Sri Lanka was the Thai- Burmese border, in 2005. As a more experienced mountaineer Johann successfully conquered Everest Base Camp in 2010, Island Peak in 2012, and Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2014. (Colombo Gazette)
