By Wasana Nadeeshani Sellahewa
Commonwealth _ In the quiet Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven, tragedy unfolded as a Sri Lankan newcomer family became the victims of a horrifying mass killing that claimed the lives of a mother, four children, and a 40-year-old acquaintance. The devastating incident, which occurred late Wednesday night, has left the community grappling with shock and grief.
The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, a loving mother who had recently moved to Canada with her family, seeking a better life. The children, seven-year-old Inuka Wickramasinghe, four-year-old Ashwini Wickramasinghe, two-year-old Rinyana Wickramasinghe, and two-month-old Kelly Wickramasinghe, had their lives cut tragically short. Also among the victims was 40-year-old Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, a family acquaintance.
The children’s father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, survived the attack but sustained injuries. He is currently in the hospital in stable condition, grappling not only with physical wounds but the incomprehensible loss of his wife and children. The community has rallied around him, offering support and condolences during this unimaginably difficult time.
The alleged perpetrator, 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa, a Sri Lankan national believed to be in Canada as a student, has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. De-Zoysa was an acquaintance of the family and had been residing in the same home at the time of the killings. Ottawa police quickly apprehended him at the scene, approximately 15 kilometers south of Ottawa’s downtown core, ensuring there is no ongoing risk to public safety.
As the details of this tragic event continue to emerge, the community is left searching for answers and grappling with the profound loss of innocence. Algonquin College confirmed De-Zoysa’s enrollment until the winter of 2023, shedding light on his student status. College president Claude Brulé expressed condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the need for collective mourning and support.
During his first court appearance, De-Zoysa spoke minimally, providing only his name and birthdate before sitting down. The court ordered him not to contact specific individuals, one of whom is Dhanushka Wickramasinghe. De-Zoysa’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 14, a date that holds significance for a community left in shock and mourning.
The Ottawa Catholic School Board confirmed that the two eldest children, Inuka and Ashwini, were students at Monsignor Paul Baxter School. In a letter to parents, the school’s principal, Vincenza Nicoletti, conveyed the deepest sympathies and condolences, acknowledging the immense pain and sorrow the families must be experiencing. The school is providing grief counseling and crisis support for both students and staff, recognizing the sensitivity surrounding the tragic event.
Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs, in a media briefing, shared that there were two calls to 911 around 10:52 p.m. local time on the night of the incident. First responders arrived promptly at the home on Berrigan Drive, near Palmadeo Drive, a residential area close to two schools. Chief Stubbs initially referred to the incident as a “mass shooting,” but later clarified that an edged “knife-like” weapon was used in the homicides.
While investigators have not speculated on a motive for the killings, Chief Stubbs ruled out intimate partner violence, providing a glimpse into the complexities surrounding the case. The community, left grappling with shock and sorrow, seeks solace and understanding in the wake of this senseless tragedy that has forever altered the lives of the victims’ families and the Barrhaven community at large.
