Sri Lanka, Sept. 19 -- Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena has urged the public and media to respect the privacy of national cricketer Dunith Wellalage and his family following the sudden passing of his father, Suranga Wellalage.

In a message on social media, Jayawardena expressed his condolences, saying his "heart goes out to Dunith and his family" and appealed for space during their time of grief.

"I can imagine what they are going through. I also plead with everyone to give them the privacy they need. We don't need live commentary during a highly emotional private moment," he wrote.

Wellalage, 21, returned to Colombo on Thursday after learning of his father's death while on national duty at the Asia Cup in the United...