Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage returned home this morning after the sudden passing of his father, Suranga Wellalage, in Colombo. He was accompanied by team manager Mahinda Halangoda.
The tragic news reached Wellalage inside the dressing room in Abu Dhabi soon after Sri Lanka’s group-stage match on Thursday night.
Team officials had first informed him of a medical emergency at home, and minutes later confirmed that his father had passed away.
Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya was seen in tears as he received the news and later spent time consoling the young all-rounder. Wellalage returned to the team hotel shortly after and took an early morning flight to Colombo to join his grieving family.
Sri Lanka’s players, who had just secured an important victory to top their group, were left stunned and subdued, leaving the stadium in silence instead of celebration.
With a Super Four fixture against Bangladesh scheduled for Friday in Dubai, team management now faces the challenge of lifting the squad’s spirits while offering support to Wellalage and his family during this difficult time.