By: Susil Premalal

(Colombo) - Professor Arjuna de Silva, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Anti Doping Agency (SLADA), has decided to step down from his post effective September 30.

His resignation from this post means he will also be released from his duties at Sri Lanka Cricket.

Professor Arjuna de Silva announced his decision at a media briefing at the SLADA Headquarters in Colombo.

Professor Arjuna de Silva was the Director General and Chairman of the SLADA since 2011 and said it was his own decision to resign but was not due to any undue pressure from any quarter.

Professor Arjuna de Silva also said he is leaving with a lot of satisfaction and also to make way for another person to take over this role.

Professor Arjuna de Silva was associated with eight sports ministers and was under the regime of three presidents during these 13 years and believed Sri Lanka had made vast strides in eradicating the drug menace among the sportsmen and women in the country.

Professor Arjuna de Silva also pioneered the construction of the new headquarters for the SLADA in Colombo, as Sri Lanka rose to sixth place among the Asian countries in controlling the drug menace.

In addition, the SLADA were also able to identify the importers and the retailers of all banned substances and prevent the sportsmen from turning towards them.

Professor Arjuna de Silva also revealed that Sri Lanka will be able to gain a significant amount of revenue in the future as the International Cricket Council has opted to obtain the services of the SLDA for all tournaments conducted in Sri Lanka.