LPL 2024: Dambulla franchise gets new owner, to be rebranded as Dambulla Sixers

The Dambulla-based franchise in the Lanka Premier League (LPL 2024) has been given a fresh start after being acquired by an American civil engineering firm. Sequoia Consultants Inc., based in Los Angeles, USA has taken over the ownership of the team through their subsidiary DeSilva Holdings.

The majority stake in Sequoia is owned by Priyanga de Silva, a chartered civil engineer who has a keen interest in cricket. De Silva played first-class cricket for Sri Lanka U19 in 1983 and currently represents the United States Masters Over 60 cricket team.

“My desire to get engaged in cricket, especially cricket in Sri Lanka, prompted me to purchase the Dambulla Sixers team, I have seen LPL grow as a league during the last four years, which is commendable for a small country like ours. I am excited to be a part of this growth and be able to contribute to the development of cricket in our country," De Silva said in a statement as per Sri Lanka Cricket.

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We are extremely happy to have the new owner taking over Dambulla: Samantha Dodanwela

Under the new ownership, the team will be rebranded as the 'Dambulla Sixers'. The acquisition has been welcomed by the LPL organizers, who believe De Silva's cricketing background will be an asset. Notably, the new Dambula owner has a decent cricketing background as he was a former first-class cricketer in Sri Lanka's domestic circuit.

“We are extremely happy to have the new owner taking over Dambulla, and Mr. De Silva’s background as a former first-class cricketer definitely adds value to this ownership, as he understands the cricketing pulse of our nation, said Mr. Samantha Dodanwela, Tournament Director of the LPL.

Besides, Anil Mohan, who is the CEO of IPG Sports which owns the LPL franchise rights believes that the new owner will surely bring more stability to the side.

“The new owner brings in the required stability for the Dambulla Sixers, and I am sure the new owner’s presence is going to make a huge difference to the franchise,” said Mohan.

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In addition to his business ventures, De Silva volunteers as a youth cricket coach in California and owns businesses in both the US and Sri Lanka. His commitment to the game in his birth country seems to have motivated this latest investment.

The revamped Dambulla Sixers will take the field when the fifth edition of the LPL kicks off on July 1, across the three venues- Kandy, Dambulla, and Colombo, respectively. With new ownership and rebranding, the franchise will be keen to make a fresh start. In the 2023 edition, the Dambulla-based franchise ended as the runner-up as they lost the finals to B-Love Kandy by five wickets.