Perera received his initial education at St. Bridget’s Convent in Colombo and subsequently attended St. Sebastian’s College for the latter.
[1][2] His father was a Proctor of the Supreme Court and Notary Public, his elder brother Herman J.C. Perera was a proctor and was also a subsequent BASL President (being the only Proctor to do so), and President of the Incorporated Law Society of Ceylon, and his uncles Shelton de Silva and Andrew de Silva were leading lawyers as well.
Then after passing his Advocates’ Examinations, he was admitted to the Bar on 24 August 1948, after doing his apprenticeship in the Chambers of Mr. Nihal Gunasekera.
In 1967, Perera was offered the honour of being appointed Queen’s Counsel but declined it.
Perera had 5 children, Charith, Surith, Ravith, Preemali and Vijiththree.