Johann Peries becomes first Sri Lankan to swarm up seven summits

JOHANN Peries, Sri Lanka’s trailblazing mountaineer, has made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to complete the ‘Seven Summits Challenge’, scaling the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Over the course of a decade, Johann planted Sri Lanka’s flag in places where no Sri Lankan had stood before, driven by an unshakable will to represent his nation at the highest altitudes on Earth.

- BY TANIA DE SILVA

“This is not just my journey,” Johann said. “This belongs to everyone who dared to believe a Sri Lankan could stand on every summit.”

Ten years. Seven continents. One legacy.

Johann’s journey began in 2014, with Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Africa. In 2016, he made his first attempt at the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest (8,849m), but had to turn back. Two years later, in 2018, he returned and successfully stood atop Everest, becoming a household name across Sri Lanka.

He continued on to Mount Kosciuszko (2,228m) in Australia in 2019, followed by Mount Elbrus (5,642m) in Europe in 2023. In 2025, he braved the icy vastness of Mount Vinson (4,892m) in Antarctica and faced violent storms on Aconcagua (6,961m) in South America, reaching within 200 meters of the summit.

His final and most formidable climb was Denali (6,190m), North America’s highest peak and one of the most dangerous in the world. Facing subzero temperatures, high winds, and avalanche threats, Johann reached High Camp at 5,243m, just 400m from the top.