Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala and Johann Peries 

Today on Buzz with Danu, I speak to two very daring individuals. After watching the film Everest, I did not even want to go to Nuwara Eliya, but these two are set to make history for the country. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala and Johann Peries will be the first Sri Lankans to attempt the 8,488m climb to the summit of Mount Everest in April 2016.  The duo will take Sri Lanka to the top of the world alongside a team led by the International Mountain Guides (IMG), a globally renowned mountaineering company, which has successfully led several expeditions to the summit of Mount Everest over the last 30 years. 

Jayanthi is a mountaineer and women’s rights advocate, who has been a professional rock climber since 2003 and Johann, recognized as one of Sri Lanka’s best-loved hair designers, is an artiste who is greatly inspired by nature. A hair designer by profession and an adventurer by choice, Johann continues to excel in both these key areas of his life. 

So before their journey starts off next week, I wanted to speak to them on Buzz with Danu. 

En route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. 

What made you guys want to do this? How did you get interested in mountain climbing? 

Climbing has been a passion for both of us. Jay used to climb every vertical angle from her little days, and Everest has been a dream. Johann was first introduced to climbing by his dad and then built up an interest for climbing. Everest inspired me the first time I laid eyes on her. 

At Everest Base Camp. 

Why do you want to climb this risky, difficult mountain? 

Everything in life that we do involves a certain amount of risk. So does climbing, when one has certain ambitions in life you would take certain chances to achieve them. 

What are the physical challenges of climbing? 

One of the main physical challenges is to keep yourself from getting hit by altitude sickness, and chest infections which is caused by the dust on the rocks. Otherwise we think we are physically up to it. 

At Island Peak - just before the summit. 

What are you worried about? 

The only thing that will worry us both is the weather, because bad weather is beyond our control. 

Jayanthi at the summit of Island Peak. 

Who has supported you the most? 

I think our families have really stood by us. Then all our friends who have been working around the clock to make this adventure a reality. I would personally like to mention Kirby, Fiona and the whole of WOW who have stood by me and given me the strength to move forward. Also our sponsors who have partnered us on this journey and stood with us when others turned us down. Also all the well wishers who made personal donations towards this venture. 

When do you leave Colombo and what's your date plan? 

We leave on the morning of March 28 for Kathmandu, and will be there until the April 1 and then on to Lukla and the Base Camp in 10 - 12 days. And that is our home for the next two months. 

Jayanthi rock climbing in the Andes. 

According to you what is the best and worst part about climbing a mountain? 

The best thing about climbing a mountain is the amazing seance of achievement you feel when you reach the top, it is something you can't explain. The worst thing is to have some sort of injury or accident and then still having enough energy to make it back down. This is something both of us have experienced before. 

Johann at Diyaluma Falls. 

You guys have been professional rock climbing since 2003. Is this enough for this big challenge? 

Jay has been a professional rock climber before 2003, but that's not what this is about. This is a different kind of challenge. As much as it is a physically challenging one, it is more of a huge mental challenge as well. 

How have you worked on the physical fitness? 

Physical fitness is something we have been working on for a very long time. Outdoor training, strength building, swimming and other water training for lung expansion are areas that we have been working on for a while now. One must remember that this is not something you wake up one morning and take off and do, it is something well planned over a period of time. Finally I'd like to mention that this is only possible to us because God will give us the strength to do this, and bring glory to Him and our country.