Sri Lanka, April 22 -- Anti-corruption crusaders and die-hard cricket followers in the island could breathe a sigh of relief as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has at last bowed down to ground realities and ordered Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) merry-go-round dictator Shammi Silva to clear out.

Silva, the Daily Mirror exclusively learns, will be replaced by Opposition Member of Parliament Eran Wickramaratne, a former Royal College cricketer, in an Interim Committee.

In a stern measure, President Dissanayake, it is learnt, has informed Silva to resign at his earliest keeping in line with mounting pressure pouring in from several quarters including players, who are calling for the cricket chief's resignation.

Silva basked in the glory of ...