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By Kirthie Abeyesekera
Child prodigy
Keith Peiris, computer wizard, received a hero’s welcome by the Sri Lankan
expatriate community in Toronto.
Fresh from his China conquests in February where the youngest of Canadian prime minister, Jean Chretien’s 300-strong team of business and political leaders had been an instant hit, the young entrepreneur captured the hearts of his Homelanders.
Smartly groomed in a dark suit and red tie, a nosegay on the lapel of his jacket, Keith Peiris, exuding a magnetic aura, was ceremoniously escorted to the reception in a colourful procession led by a female drummer followed by young men and women carrying the Lion Flag. The audience rose in a rousing tribute to the celebrity kid.
"I am proud of you, Keith," a beaming Geetha de Silva, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Canada told the handsome young man. At her first official function since assuming the duties of her new office, Mrs. de Silva offered the Canada-born Keith her warm wishes for his future, adding that the Motherland was proud of him too.
Earlier, Mahinda Gunasekera, president of the Sri Lanka United National Association which hosted the reception, in a welcome speech, announced the launch of a special fund in honour of Keith Peiris, to provide computers for orphaned children in Sri Lanka. Keith’s father, Deepal spontaneously pledged to initiate the Fund with a donation.
In keeping with tradition, the brass oil lamp was lit by Keith, his father and Madam High Commissioner. Taking over the reception chair, teenager Natasha Samarasinghe introduced the young guest to an animated audience. A grade niner with Medicine on her mind, Natasha would later tell me that young people should look up to Keith as a role model, and push themselves if they want to succeed in life.
In a masterful presentation projected on a white screen before a large turn out of a predominantly young gathering, Keith displayed a remarkable degree of professionalism. Here was a confident young man, warm and smiling, while adding bits of humour to sophisticated high-tec stuff. He outlined the award-winning ‘Cyberteks Design’ he founded in June 1999, of which he is now the president and his father, vice-president. Asked by the Canadian Boradcasting Corporation’s Shella Rogers, in a television interview, whether his father worked for him, Keith had responded "No, we are partners." Deepal has said, "We make decisions together."
"I am proud of my son," his father seated beside me, whispered.
Fast and fluent, Keith’s accent is a fine blend of Canadian and Sri Lankan. He told his audience that he owned 95 percent of the company shares, while his mother, Sriya, who has a Doctorate in Chemistry, owned five percent. He quickly qualified this with a mischievous smile. "But my mother holds my shares in trust till I come of age."
When the screen showed his age as 12, he quipped, "I must correct that. Actually, I am thirteen. "His parents emigrated to Canada in 1981. At three he received a computer from his father. He paid a tribute to the father from whom "I learned the basics, and took over from there."
Explaining some of the intricate websites laden with music and animation, Keith showed an incredible growth-development which began when he was ten-an age when other kids are more interested in Britney Spears, comics and television reruns. His interests turned to experimenting with interactive tools.
Keith spelled out the names of his company’s clients and an impressive, global media recognition list that included several prestigious news networks. He has been pestered for interviews by CNN, the CBC and Australian TV.
A brilliant grade eight academic student, Keith’s interest in sports extends to Ontario’s ‘London Knights’ ice-hockey team where he keeps goal. His nights and weekends are devoted to his web design contracts. "My work is fun," he told Reuter’s Julie Remy.
The China pictures flashed on the screen shows Keith literally rubbing shoulders with Chinese and Canadian political giants and business luminaries-a David among the Goliaths. While in the Communist land of Mao Tse-tung, he was awarded the ‘Outstanding Digi Youth Award’ by the Hong Kong Junior Chamber-the first non-Chinese chosen for the honour.
Asked what impact his China mission has on him personally, he said it had definitely enriched his outlook in ways far beyond the commercial. There is so much to learn from people, he observed.
Quite at ease with media probing, he told ‘The Sunday Island’ that China was totally different to what the Western media projected it to be. "It is a far more open society than we are made to believe," he said. "It was a great learning and cultural exposure for me. I realized the importance of dialogue between people."
Commercially, the China trip was beneficial too. Cyberteks has set up branch offices in Beijing and Shanghai, in addition to its several existing branches in New York and other American cities.
For a kid who heads a company that turns in revenues running into six figures, Keith has his head on his shoulders. In recent months, Cyberteks business has increased an incredible 600 percent, ‘partly due to the publicity for its young founder.’ "Of course, I am not the best designer," he told Reuters, "but I will strive to be."
Flash animation
Reportedly, the youngest user of flash animation and interactive tools in Canada, Keith is modest of his complishment. His astronomical rise to fame has happily, not turned him into the proverbial ‘spoiled brat.’ No, he told me, "I don’t feel myself different from other kids my age." Despite plans for a career in business and computer engineering, he cherishes his childhood and says he has as much fun as other kids his age.
On behalf of SLUNA, Laurette Wijetunga, a reputed painter, presented Keith with one of her creations, ‘Fall Ridge.’ Chani Dedunupitiya, another teenager, made an eloquent ‘Vote of Thanks’ in Sinhala and English.
The singing of ‘O Canada’ and ‘Sri Lanka Matha’ signalled the ‘shut down’ to an enchanting evening with a wonder boy who has opened new windows.