"The present incumbent Jayanta Dharmadasa has resigned and Arjuna Ranatunga will take over as the Chairman of the SLC from tomorrow", SLC spokesman Samantha Algama said.

The former captain, now a Member of Parliament representing the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party, will head the cricket body at a time when it is faced with retirement of top players and the need to find able replacements.

Commenting on the present state of the game in Sri Lanka, Ranatunga said several slots were ensured for school cricketers in the national pool in the past, but the scenario had changed now.

Ranatunga, one of the most reliable middle order batsmen Sri Lanka has ever produced, played in the country's inaugural Test match as an 18-year-old schoolboy in 1982 and went onto lead the Lankan team till 1999.

He captained Sri Lanka in 38 Tests between 1988 and 1999.

In 93 Test matches, Ranatunga scored 5,105 runs at an average of 35.69. He also took 16 wickets.