(Courtesy: CTV News Ottawa)
The mass killing of a Sri Lankan family in Ottawa has community members stepping up to show love and support.
The Sri Lankan community has been raising money while mourning the mass killing of six people, including four young children, in Ottawa on Wednesday night.
On Thursday, a vigil was held at Palmadeo Park for the Wickramasinghe family and a family friend who were murdered in their nearby home.
“It was heartbreaking to see all of the faces,” neighbourhood resident and Sri Lankan community member Ruwanthika told Now Toronto “I’m a mother myself and I can only imagine the helplessness they felt. I don’t know how the father will manage to live after all of this.”
At around 11 p.m. Wednesday, Ottawa police received two 911 calls from the Berrigan Dr. area saying a man was yelling for help asking people to call the police.
Officers immediately discovered all of the six victims inside the house. Paramedics were called and arrived shortly after.
Police immediately arrested and charged 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa with six counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
De-Zoysa is an international student who was also living in the family’s home.
The deceased family were immigrants who had just begun building their life in Canada.
Police identified the victims by name in a press release on Thursday:
Thirty-five- year-old Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, who is the mother of the children, seven year-old son Inuka Wickramasinghe, four year-old daughter Ashwini Wickramasinghe, two year-old daughter Rinyana Wickramasinghe, and their two-and-a-half month old daughter Kelly Wickramasinghe.
A family friend and recent immigrant 40-year-old Ge Gamini Amarakoon was also killed.
The only survivor is the father of the family, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe (Maduranga). He is currently being treated at the Ottawa Hospital for injuries.
Ruwanthika hopes an incident like this never happens again.
“I was in shock. I live within five kilometers from the family and this happened out of nowhere.”
Most support for the Sri Lankan community in Ottawa seems to come from the Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery, according to Nimanthie Ariyasinghe, who’s an acquaintance of the family.
The Buddhist Congress of Canada at the Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery began a fundraiser yesterday to support the victims and their families.
It has already managed to raise $56,775 of their goal of $200,0000 since publication.
“Once the autopsies are done, and bodies are released, we will be undertaking the funerals and will update the information here,” the GoFundMe website said.
Temple community leaders are on their way to the hospital to help Dhanushka Wickramasinghe during his recovery.
“We’re doing what we can to help with the funeral arrangements,” Ariyasinghe told Now Toronto. “One of the most important things is to support each other in processing this news and taking time to take care of their own mental health.”
Another vigil will take place Saturday evening to honour the victims.
Ottawa’s mayor also posted on X to honour the passing of the young family.
