Perera made his ODI debut in the 1998 Singer-Akai Nidahas Trophy, and played two matches against India and one against New Zealand. He made his Test debut on Sri Lanka's 1998 tour of England, scoring 43 not out batting ninth in Sri Lanka's first innings and taking the wicket of Alec Stewart. In his innings, he recorded six boundaries (including one six) as he "eviscerated an England attack containing Darren Gough, Angus Fraser, and Dominic Cork". Later in the year, Perera represented Sri Lanka in the cricket competition at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, with the team losing the play-off for the bronze medal to New Zealand.