Former Sri Lankan leg-spinner D.S. de Silva, who played in the country’s inaugural Test match in 1982 and later served as Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, has passed away at the age of 83.
De Silva died in London following a brief illness, family sources said.
A respected figure in Sri Lankan cricket, De Silva represented the national team during the early years of Test cricket and went on to captain Sri Lanka in two Test matches. After his playing career, he continued to serve the game in multiple capacities, including as a coach, team manager and national selector.
He was appointed Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket in 2009 and held the position until 2011. During his tenure, De Silva played a key role in the development and completion of several international cricket stadiums across the country.
Cricket commentator Roshan Abeysinghe paid tribute to De Silva in a social media post, describing him as a highly respected administrator known for his honesty and integrity.
“DS, as he was popularly known, served this nation in many capacities and was instrumental in developing international cricket infrastructure in Sri Lanka. He will always be remembered for his service to the game,” Abeysinghe said.
He also recalled working closely with De Silva, describing him as kind, helpful and deeply committed to Sri Lankan cricket. (Newswire)