KATHMANDU: Sri Lanka’s Johann Peries scaled the Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 5.55 a.m. (Nepal time) today, 22 May, to become only the second Sri Lankan to achieve the feat after Jayanthi Kuru Utumpala in 2016.
This was Johann’s second attempt to reach the top of Mt. Everest. In 2016, Jayanthi and Johann were the first Sri Lankans to undertake the challenge of summiting Everest but Johann had to return without reaching the top as his oxygen tank failed 400 meters before the summit.
Johann, who strictly adheres to the adage ‘Never give up on your dreams’, was not discouraged by the earlier setback and was determined to finish what he started. He realised his lifelong ambition after months of rigorous training.
He announced his second attempt early this year with a campaign named ‘Climb Everest With Johann’ where the public could be a part of his journey by purchasing one of the steps he would take on the mountain for a mere Rs.100.
Congratulating Johann Peries, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted: “Our warmest congratulations Johann Peries to become the second Sri Lankan to successfully summit Mt. Everest.”
Johann has now begun his descent, which is considered more treacherous at times than the ascent. He is part of a 13-member team including 8 Sherpas, 2 Americans, a South African and a Canadian who reached the summit, which stands 8,848 metres (29,029 feet), above sea level on the border of Nepal and China.
Approximately 4,000 people have climbed Mt Everest since Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) summited the peak in 1953.
An artist inspired by nature, Johann is a hair-designer by profession and adventurer by choice. His passion for the great outdoors and his creative soul has struck a perfect balance and is evident in his work, life and interests. Today, he is not only one of the few Sri Lankans in the lifestyle and beauty sector to have won international acclaim but also a local hero who has helped put Sri Lanka on the world map through his mountaineering excellence.
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, drove him to conquer mountains both in Sri Lanka and around the world. 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.
