Dhananjaya de Silva is set to arrive in the West Indies on Monday

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Sri Lanka batsman Dhananjaya de Silva will join his teammates in the West Indies following the funeral of his father, who was murdered by unidentified gunmen.

De Silva had initially indicated that he would withdraw from the tour due to his father’s death, but it has now been confirmed that he will land in the West Indies on Monday.

However, since he will spend 30 hours in transit and arrive only two days ahead of the opening Test in Trinidad, it is likely that he will miss the first Test.

It is likely that De Silva will feature in the second Test in St Lucia on June 14.

The 26-year-old has scored two centuries in his last three Tests, with one being a crucial 119 not out against India that helped Sri Lanka draw the match in Delhi.

He then followed it up with a superb 173 against Bangladesh in Chittagong, which also ended as a draw.

De Silva’s father, Ranjan de Silva, was shot dead in Rathmalana, which is located just south of Colombo, at approximately 8.30pm on May 23. He was pronounced dead upon arriving at Kalubowila Hospital.

Ranjan had been elected as a councillor in the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia City Council in February.