HSM Pieris, A Master In Chemistry And Cricket!

Cricketers who were Academics are a very rare breed, and Henry Sri Mevan (H.S.M.) Peiris was one such exception having won the Gold Medal in his Licentiateship Examination before representing Sri Lanka at the Inaugural World Cup in 1975!

Born on a day like this in 1946, he hails from the 'Peiris Deraniyagala' lineage and was an outstanding all-round student at S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia where he played for the Royal Thomian as the opening fast bowler, and performed exceptionally well at his Advanced Levels to enter the Faculty of Science in University of Colombo.

He continued being a bright student as he went on to captain the Cricket team and was awarded University colours in two other sports, winning the Leslie Handunge Award for the Best All Round Sportsman of the University.

Member of the Inaugural World Cup

It was during his undergraduate years when he made his debut for Ceylon Cricket against the visiting MCC team. Having played the Gopalan Trophy a number of occasions, he was the frontline fast bowler in the Pre-Test era with his outswing and taking the most number of wickets for Sri Lanka between 1970-1975.

Then in 1975, aged 29, he was part of the Sri Lanka ODI team that played in the Inaugural Prudential World Cup. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury and his international career for Sri Lanka as an ODI cricketer lasted only 3 matches.

HSM Peiris seated second from left with the Sri Lanka team in the 1975 Prudential World Cup

However, he was among the 49 Cricketers who were felicitated for their services in the Pre Test Era to Ceylon/Sri Lanka Cricket in 2018.

Service to Chemistry

Hanging his Cricket boots, he became a specialist in Polymers with his Masters from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura and was a Gold Medalist at the Licentiaship Examination of the Institute of Rubber in the UK, 2 years before his ODI debut.

For more than 40 years, he has been a key figure in Polymer Chemistry having held the position of President at both the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon and the Institute of Plastic and Rubber Sri Lanka, and a visiting lecturer in many leading Universities. As a long standing contributor at Arpico (later General Manager in R&D) which at the time was the largest plastic and rubber manufacturer in the country, and held the position of Company Director at Capital Maharaja and AMW.

It is truly remarkable to excel in both sports and profession at the same time, which is inspirational for many aspiring cricketers and academic professionals. Here's to wishing Mevan Peiris sir on his 79th birthday today!

Another fun fact about him is that he is the author of "The Community"- A Historical Account of the ‘Mudaliyar class Goyigama Family Combine’ which was launched last year. Here's for more details.

https://www.elanka.com.au/mevan-pieris-author-of-the-community-a-historical-account-of-the-mudaliyar-class-goyigama-family-combine-the-book-launch-photos-sent-to-elanka-b/