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Lester’s and Sumitra’s abode of 47 years sold without their knowledge
The house that was home to the Peries' for 47 years. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Nonagenarian and internationally acclaimed film director Lester James Peries’ and his wife Sumitra Peries’ days at the residence they have occupied for more than 47 years may be numbered after its owner sold it to a property developer without their knowledge.
The couple had been living in the house on Lester James Peries Mawatha (formerly Dickman’s Road) since 1969 as tenants.
“Last October we received a letter from a leading legal firm, saying that the property has been sold to a developer . We were asked to pay the rent to the new owner. However, we were not informed of the transaction till it was completed and now our future in this house seems uncertain,” said Ms. Peries, award-winning film maker and Sri Lanka’s former ambassador to France.
The Peiris’ once owned a property at Kotte but it was sold and a large portion of the money was invested in the film industry.
“My husband is now 97 and we are not in a position to move to a new property. We also do not have any other property,” she added.
Dickman’s Road was named Dr. Lester James Pieris Mawatha in 2011 by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) in recognition of Dr. Peries’ contribution to the Sinhala film industry. Last month, his internationally renowned film Rekawa marked 60 years of its premiere.
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