British qualified solicitor Peiris who retired in 2011 as the AG was also serving as the legal advisor to the Cabinet. He is a past pupil of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and Royal College Colombo, where he won college colours in cricket. Thereafter he entered the Sri Lanka Law College and was called to the Bar in 1975, starting his legal practice under senior lawyers D. R. P. Gunatilleke and Daya Perera, PC. Thereafter he enrolled as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1978.