Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris (裴偉士), FRS, Légion d'Honneur, was born on 10 November 1949, in Sri Lanka. He is referred to in scientific publications and media reports as JSM Peiris, JS Peiris, Joseph Peiris and, most commonly, as Malik Peiris. He is a distinguished old boy of St. Anthony's College, Kandy and later studied medicine at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.