Dunith Wellalage pens emotional tribute to father Suranga Wellalage’s passing during Asia Cup 2025

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Sri Lanka’s young spinner Dunith Wellalage has penned an emotional note following the passing of his father, Suranga Wellalage, during the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. His father suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after Sri Lanka’s victory against Afghanistan in the group stage, a win that secured the team’s berth in the Super Four.

The left-arm spinner then took to Instagram to express his grief, thank his supporters, and acknowledge those who helped his family during this difficult time.

Wellalage began his message by thanking those who stood by him in the tough phase and opened up about the emotional toll of losing his father. He admitted that the loss has created a permanent void in his life—one that no achievement or consolation can replace. His acknowledgment of this pain shows how deeply intertwined family is with the foundation of an athlete’s career.

“I want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who stood by me and my family during the most painful time of my life, after the passing of my beloved father. Losing him has left a void that can never be filled, but the love, strength, and support I received gave me the courage to keep moving forward,” wrote Wellalage on his Instagram post.

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Wellalage expressed appreciation for individuals who stood by him personally, mentioning legendary cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, and the coaching staff, who helped him cope with his grief.

“My heartfelt gratitude goes to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, CDB Bank, Munchee, Moratuwa Police, Panadura Hospital, Colts Cricket Club, St. Sebastian College, St. Joseph’s College, and Prince of Wales’ College Old Boys’ Association for being there for me and my family. A special thank you to Sanath Sir, Mahinda Halangoda Sir, and the entire national coaching staff, as well as Charith Aiya and my brothers in the Sri Lanka National Team. Your presence, kindness, and guidance meant more to me than words can ever express,” Wellalage added.

Despite the devastating personal loss, Wellalage briefly left the squad to perform funeral rites before returning to play against Bangladesh. By returning to the squad so quickly, he showed resilience and commitment to his team. Notably, the Islanders lost the game against Bangladesh by 4 wickets and their next match is up against Pakistan on Tuesday at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

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