Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva and the SLC Executive Committee have decided to resign, ending a seven-year administration that has come under sustained government pressure in recent weeks.

Ada Derana and Newswire reported the decision was taken at a special committee meeting on Monday (April 28) — the meeting flagged the previous day by Lankadeepa as the likely turning point.

Silva was first elected SLC President in February 2019 and held the position for nearly seven years, winning successive elections through March 2025. He also chairs the Asian Cricket Council.

The resignation comes after a group including a prominent player agent and several senior cricketers reportedly met top government officials to raise concerns over cricket administration. Recent controversy has centred on a package of strict and unpopular reforms pushed by the Silva-led ExCo, including tighter fitness standards, mandatory disciplinary clauses in future contracts, and performance-based pay. Salary and match fee deductions for underperforming players are part of the new system, with bonuses available only for wins against top-four ranked international teams.

The government is expected to appoint an interim committee headed by former State Minister Eran Wickramaratne — the same governance structure flagged earlier this month by SJB MP S.M. Marikkar, who said the President might remove the existing SLC board before May 1 as a “popular decision” ahead of Labour Day rallies.

The departure marks an abrupt shift from days earlier when Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa denied that the President had asked the chairman to step down, and SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said the board had received no formal notification of such a move.

Daily FT, reporting on Wednesday morning before the resignations were publicly confirmed, said no official announcement was issued after the Monday emergency meeting because not all Executive Committee members were present. SLC sources cited by the paper noted that under the Sports Law and the SLC constitution, the resignation of the President, Secretary and Treasurer would normally trigger a Special General Meeting and fresh nominations, with an interim committee permissible only if the government dissolved SLC by gazette for “a very valid reason.”

Sources: Ada Derana, Newswire, Daily FT.