Former Sri Lankan leg-spinner D.S. de Silva, who featured 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, according to family sources.
A highly respected figure in Sri Lankan cricket, he represented the national team during the early years of Test cricket and captained Sri Lanka in two Test matches. After retiring from playing, De Silva continued to contribute to the sport in several roles, including coach, team manager and national selector.
He was appointed Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket in 2009 and held the post until 2011. During his tenure, he played a significant 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 an administrator renowned for his honesty and integrity.
“DS, as he was popularly known, served the 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, supportive and deeply committed to Sri Lankan cricket.
