N Krishnamurthy in Cricket Age, 20 December 2018, where the title is “The inside story of Dharmadasa and Shammi Silva meeting”
As the election time has arrived at Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), the candidates and certain camps have also started to tighten up their strategy. Obviously, the attempts have also been started to bring opposite camp’s stalwart! In one such scenario, few days ago the notorious and controversial treasurer of Thilanga Sumathipala camp Shammi Silva tried to convince Jayantha Dharmadasa!
Dharmadasa 
Shammi Silva
Dharmadasa was vice president in Sumathipala led administration until May last year, but walked out midway through largely due to [the] wrong decisions and [the] dictatorship of Sumathipala.
The scenario, however, has changed now. Sumathipala has been done and dusted in cricket administration (and in politics also). So, obviously Sumathipala camp.is like a sinking ship, without a captain!
That was the reason for Shammi Silva eagerness to meet Dharmadasa. According to sources, a friend of Shammi Silva, Nilan Oponso (sic?) requested Dharmadasa for a meeting. The meeting took place in a hotel, with one person was present there from both the side!
However, the meeting could not bring any conclusion. According to sources, Shammi Silva offered Dharmadasa to join Sumathipala camp. However, Dharmadasa clearly told that he is ready to join anyone and ready to welcome anyone to his side also for the betterment of the game, but he can’t work with Sumathipala. It is a open fact that even though Sumathipala is not contesting the election ( by fearing ICC), he will be the kingmaker behind the scenes and once again will ruin Sri Lanka Cricket, if he manages to win!
Dharmadasa was not ready for this!
Cricket Age also learns that as Sumathipala is not contesting the election and has nominated Shammi Silva also for the presidential post, majority of his camp are upset with the decision. A completely illegible and controversial figure, Shammi Silva is not popular even within Sumathipala’s Camp. According to insiders, many former administrators of Sumathipala camp were not ready to even put their submissions for the election, but he forcefully dragged them into the election.
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A CRITICAL NOTE from The Editor, CRICKETIQUE:
tThe command of English displayed by thsi writer is terrible, but that is of relatively minor importance. I warn readers thhat Krishnamurthy is a muckraker of the the worst sort pursuing a policiy that seeks to undermine not only Sri Lankan Cricket but the cricketers as well. Whether this is due to his ancestral origins from wherever or not is an issue we have to bear in mind…BUT the criticism must also be extended to the directors of CRICKET AGE.
That said, there is no doubt that the personnel running Sri Lanka Cricket in the last few years have been schemers and wheeler-dealers …. and a blot on our territory.
Sumathipala and Shammi in balmier times
ISLAND News Item, 17 December 2018: “Thilanga withdraws from SLC elections”
Sri Lanka Cricket strongman Thilanga Sumathipala has decided against contesting February’s cricket elections and instead has nominated his long time ally Mohan De Silva to run the show. This was similar to what took place in 2003 when Sumathipala stepped down from SLC and De Silva ran the show. Sinhalese Sports Club stalwart Mohan De Silva and his team submitted their nominations yesterday with the cricket elections expected to be held on the 7th of February.
Although Sumathipala will not contest the elections he will still be a key figure at SLC. As the Immediate Past President of the Board, Sumathipala will sit on the Executive Committee Meetings and will be calling the shots.
Shammi Silva and Ravin Wickramaratne, who functioned as Treasurer and Assistant Secretary in the last Ex-Co have submitted nominations as Vice-Presidents with Bandula Dissanayake, the highly efficient Tournament Secretary submitting his nominations as Secretary. A new face enters the cricket elections with Lasantha Wickramasinghe contesting as the Treasurer.
One notable absentee from the last Executive Committee is K. Mathivanan, who was the Vice-President. Mathivanan was in-charge of international cricket and was instrumental in bringing in Chandika Hathurusingha as Head Coach. He is expected to challenge Mohan de Silva as Presidential candidate from the other group. He is believed to backed by Jayantha Dharmadasa and one time bitter rival Nishantha Ranatunga. Like in politics, there aren’t permanent friends or enemies in cricket.
WIKIPEDIA data
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Shammi Silva
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|---|---|
| Born |
Atulugamage Shammi Shiraj Silva
7 August 1960 |
| Nationality | Sri Lanka |
| Education | Nalanda College, Colombo |
| Employer | Sri Lanka Cricket |
| Known for | Sports administration |
| Spouse(s) | Roberta |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Dilruk (brother) |