Ashley Matthew de Silva was born on 3 December 1963in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He grew up in Colombo, one of the country’s principal urban centers, where he spent his childhood years.
He received his education at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, a well-established Catholic boys’ school known for its academic and extracurricular traditions. His formative years were shaped within this school environment, which has historically played a role in nurturing young students in both academic and sporting activities.
| Fact | Detail |
| Full Name | Ashley Matthew De Silva |
| Born | Dec 3, 1963 |
| Birthplace | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lanka |
| Education | St. Joseph’s College |
| Profession | Cricket Administrator |
| Current Role | CEO, Sri Lanka Cricket |
| International Career | 3 Tests, 4 ODIs (1986–1993) |
| Playing Role | Wicketkeeper–Batsman |
| Net Worth 2026 | Not publicly disclosed |
Ashley Matthew de Silva (born December 3, 1963) is a former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper–batsman and the long-time chief executive officer of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). A right-handed batsman from Colombo, de Silva played international cricket for Sri Lanka in the late 1980s and early 1990s before shifting into administrative roles.
He joined the SLC professional staff in the late 2000s and rose through the ranks to become Director of Cricket Operations in 2008. In 2013 he was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer, and after a probationary period became the permanent CEO. In this capacity he has overseen Sri Lanka’s cricket administration and business operations into the mid-2020s.
De Silva represented Sri Lanka’s national team as a specialist wicketkeeper. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut on March 2, 1986 against Pakistan in Kandy, and his Test debut on March 13, 1993 against England in Colombo.
In total he played three Test matches and four ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1986 and 1993. His final international appearances were in July 1993 (a Test and an ODI) after which he retired from international cricket.
Although his international career was brief, it coincided with Sri Lanka’s early years as a Test-playing nation, and he was part of the squad during home series against England and India in 1993.
As a player, de Silva was primarily a wicketkeeper who batted right-handed in the lower order. In three Test innings he scored 10 runs (highest score 9) at an average of 3.33, and effected 4 catches and 1 stumping.
In ODIs he batted in two innings, scoring a total of 12 runs (highest score 8) at an average of 6.00, along with 4 catches and 2 stumpings. These modest statistics reflect his role as a wicketkeeper rather than a leading batsman.
Domestically, de Silva played for Colombo Cricket Club from 1984 until 1996, and he was regarded as a reliable gloveman at the club level throughout the 1980s and 1990s. There were no major batting milestones in his international career, but serving as Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper in that era placed him in the company of the national team’s pioneers.
After retiring from playing, de Silva moved into the professional side of cricket management. He initially worked outside cricket notably as general manager of the private communications company Suntel for five years while maintaining involvement in the sport.
He served in support roles for youth cricket, managing Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team on assignment before 2008. In 2008 he joined Sri Lanka Cricket full-time as Director of Cricket Operations.
In that role he oversaw domestic competitions, youth development, and other cricket operations for the national board. His blend of on-field experience and corporate management was seen as valuable for the SLC executive.
De Silva’s SLC administrative career advanced through the 2010s. In March 2013, when the sitting CEO retired, he was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket effective April 1, 2013.
Nishantha Ranatunga, the SLC secretary at the time, confirmed de Silva would have a six-month probation period with the expectation of being confirmed as full CEO. This appointment followed his performance as Director of Cricket Operations. By mid-2013 he transitioned to permanent CEO of SLC.
As CEO, de Silva has been the top executive of Sri Lanka’s cricket board. He chairs the board of management and oversees all departments finance, commercial, high performance, and administration.
He works alongside the SLC President and board in shaping national cricket strategy. In this leadership capacity he has also been involved in key decisions like coach and selector appointments and budget allocations. During his tenure, de Silva has regularly coordinated with the SLC president Shammi Silva to implement reforms and development programs.
Under de Silva’s leadership, SLC has launched several significant initiatives to strengthen the sport’s foundation. In early 2025 he spearheaded a major investment in school cricket SLC committed a large financial package over Rs. 500 million to upgrade 56 schools’ annual big-match fixtures from two days to three days.
De Silva explained that many schools were previously reluctant to play three-day matches due to extra expenses, so SLC provided grants of Rs. 2.5 million per school for the additional day. This move was intended to better develop endurance and skills in young cricketers and create a stronger pipeline to the national team.
De Silva has also prioritized commercial partnerships and financial stability for SLC. In May 2025 he announced a high-profile sponsorship deal with Elephant House (John Keells Holdings) making it the official beverage partner of the Sri Lankan cricket teams.
Speaking at the announcement, he described the alliance as a “groundbreaking partnership” that would go a long way in serving the players’ needs. Such deals have strengthened SLC’s funding and marketing profile.
More broadly, de Silva guided SLC through organizational modernization improving corporate governance, securing global media rights agreements, and maintaining the cricket calendar despite disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the field, SLC under his tenure continued hosting international series and ICC events ensuring home venues and security arrangements met international standards. The board’s renewed focus on high performance including support for the Sri Lanka High Performance Centre has also been a priority during his term.
Overall, de Silva’s contributions lie in reinforcing Sri Lanka’s cricket infrastructure linking schools cricket to national development, stabilizing finance through sponsors, and professionalizing the board’s administration.
Ashley de Silva was serving as CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket. In this role his responsibilities include overseeing all cricket operations, managing the executive staff, liaising with government and international bodies, and setting strategic priorities.
He works closely with the national selection committees and coaches for men’s, women’s and youth teams to align administrative support with on-field goals.
In the last few years, de Silva maintained and expanded SLC’s commercial programs. Besides the Elephant House beverage deal, he has overseen sponsorship renewals in areas like apparel, equipment, and broadcasting.
He also participated in high-level cricket diplomacy. For example, in February 2026 he joined SLC President Shammi Silva and other officials in hosting Pakistan Cricket Board representatives to honor the PCB chairman’s contributions to the sport.
During the global pandemic and its aftermath, de Silva managed the resumption of domestic tournaments and international tours, working with health authorities to ensure player safety. He championed restarting the Lanka Premier League franchise T20 tournament and the national club competitions once travel restrictions eased.
He has also spoken publicly about recruiting experienced foreign coaches and improving fitness standards, reflecting his ongoing involvement in team performance matters.
In summary, Ashley de Silva’s post-playing career has seen a steady rise through the SLC hierarchy. By 2026 he had cemented his reputation as the chief executive who guided Sri Lanka Cricket through financial, developmental and competitive challenges.
His tenure is marked by a focus on grassroots development, securing commercial partnerships, and professional administration all aimed at strengthening Sri Lankan cricket for the future.
As of 2026, Ashley De Silva's net worth is not publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. He derives income from executive positions in sports and business, including his long-term tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket and his five-year service as general manager of telecommunications company Suntel. Specific salary or earnings figures for these roles have not been publicly disclosed.
Ashley De Silva is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and cricket administrator. He is best known for serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
He was born on 3 December 1963 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
He played as a wicketkeeper–batsman for Sri Lanka. His international appearances included both Test and One Day International matches.
He played 3 Test matches and 4 One Day Internationals for Sri Lanka between 1986 and 1993.
He was appointed Acting CEO in April 2013 and was later confirmed as the permanent CEO the same year.
As CEO, he oversees cricket operations, administration, and commercial activities of Sri Lanka Cricket. He also works with board officials on strategic and organizational decisions.