D. S. de Silva, a former Sri Lanka leg-spinner who played a key role in the nation’s first steps into Test cricket and later headed Sri Lanka Cricket, has passed away at the age of 83. Family sources confirmed that he died in London after a short illness.
De Silva was part of Sri Lanka’s historic maiden Test match in 1982 and quickly emerged as one of the most influential figures of that formative period. He went on to captain the national side in two Test matches, earning widespread respect for his leadership and experience during the early years of Test cricket.
He holds several significant distinctions in Sri Lanka’s cricketing history, including being the country’s first One Day International cap recipient and the second player to receive a Test cap. As a leg-spinner, de Silva etched his name into the record books during the 1982 tour of Pakistan by becoming the first Sri Lankan bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in a Test innings. The following year, during the tour of New Zealand, he also became the oldest cricketer to captain Sri Lanka in Test cricket.
After stepping away from international play, de Silva continued to contribute extensively to the sport. He served in various roles such as coach, team manager and national selector, before being appointed Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket from 2009 to 2011.
Highly regarded for his dedication to the game over several decades, D. S. de Silva is remembered as one of Sri Lanka’s finest leg-spinners and a key architect of the country’s early cricketing legacy.
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