Shammi Silva had previously served as the member of executive committee of the board in 2014 © SLC

Shammi Silva, on Thursday (February 21), was elected as the new president of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Silva, who was backed by former president Thilanga Sumathipala, garnered 83 out of possible 142 votes while his rival, Jayantha Dharmadasa, received 56 votes. Silva had previously served as the member of executive committee of the board in 2014.

The SLC election was slated to be held on February 02 this month. However, it was postponed by two weeks as per the advice of the Attorney General.

Earlier, in August 2018, the board had noted that the elections would take place by February 9 after a delegation met the ICC to petition for more time. A four-member management panel was also named to run SLC's day-to-day activities alongside the Kamal Padmasiri-led competent authority, which in turn was appointed by the sports ministry.

The elections have been delayed since May last year after the court, hearing on a petition filed against then SLC president Sumathipala by the board's presidential candidate Nishantha Ranatunga, observed that the election protocol had been breached.