Friday Jun 12, 2026
Friday Jun 12, 2026
Thursday, 30 April 2026 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
SLC President Shammi Silva (centre) with his elected office bearers after the March 2025 elections
So it’s finally official. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva has, along with his members of the Executive Committee, tendered their resignations from their respective posts with effect from yesterday.
An SLC media release states: “The President of SLC, Shammi Silva, has tendered his resignation from the post, effective today. Along with him, the office bearers and members of the Executive Committee of the SLC have also submitted their resignations. This decision has been formally communicated to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.”
The SLC hierarchy’s decision to step down comes in the wake of a request made by the country’s President amid mounting public pressure and ongoing allegations of financial irregularities.
Silva and his committee had another 11 months in office before the next SLC elections, which are due in March 2027, after they were elected for a two-year term in March 2025.
Silva took over the SLC Presidency in February 2019 from Thilanga Sumathipala and went on to consolidate his position, winning four consecutive terms, three of which were uncontested. During his seven-year tenure, the Sri Lanka men’s and women’s teams won the Asia Cup titles, but consistency was lacking. The men’s team ended ninth at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, failing to qualify for a place in the Champions Trophy for the first time in their history. The men’s T20I side failed miserably in the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup editions.
During Silva’s tenure, SLC’s stature as the country’s richest sports body achieved record revenues, but the administration was frequently plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
Sports Minister Gamage in an official statement said that he has accepted the resignation of Silva and the members of the Executive Committee.
The Ministry said that, under the powers vested in the Minister by Sections 31 and 34 of the Sports Law, No. 25 of 1973, the SLC administration will be temporarily brought under the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry with immediate effect.
Accordingly, all administrative functions of SLC will now fall under the Ministry’s oversight until further arrangements are made.
The statement added that a committee will be appointed shortly to identify solutions to current issues in cricket and to implement structural reforms within the governing body.
