Dewan Bahadur Chevalier Ignatius Xavier Pereira KCSS (26 April 1888 – 21 July 1951) was a colonial-era Ceylonese businessman and politician. Ignatius Xavier Pereira was born on 21 July 1888 in Tuticorin, India, the eldest son of Francis Xavier Pereira. His father moved the family to Colombo in 1889 establishing the company, F. X. Pereira and Sons, which specialised in drapery and tailoring. Pereira was educated at St. Benedict's College, Kotahena. After his father died in March 1906 Pereira took over the running of the family business at the age of eighteen. He expanded the operations of the company to include shipping, insurance, manufacturing and general stores.