In 1904 he won the national University Scholarship,[2][3] which allowed him to study at Christ's College, Cambridge,[4] where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Law.
[5][6] At the fourth Legislative Council election held on 27 September 1924 he contested the seat for Southern Province (Eastern Division) against a local Tangalle barrister, V. S. de S. Wikramanayake.
[10][11] In March 1932 Perera moved a motion in the State Council calling for the use of Sinhalese and Tamil in the judicial and civil administration.
In December 1934, following the resignation of Alexander Francis Molamure, the Speaker of the State Council, Forester Augustus Obeysekera was elected to the position, defeating Perera by 28 votes to 27.
[12] In 1938, Perera served as the first Trade Commissioner of Ceylon in England, which at the time was the highest appointment available to represent the country abroad.