![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976277.1721852563!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'Your city is here with you': Ottawa honours the six victims of Barrhaven's mass killing
The entire community in Ottawa honoured the six victims of the city's biggest murder in its recent history Sunday afternoon through a public funeral service.
The multi-faith service took place at the Infinity Convention Center at 2901 Gibford Dr. from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The service was attended by community representatives, including Ottawa's Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Gary Anandasangaree, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, religious leaders from various faiths and other community leaders.
About 200 people were in attendance, including the surviving father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe.
In a statement released to media, Wickramasinghe said the tragedy has shaken him and his family deeply.
"I am devastated and torn by the loss of my beloved wife Dharshini and my beautiful angels Inuka, Ranaya, Ashvini and Kelly and my dear friend Gamini," he said, in part.
"I would like to thank the Ottawa First Responders, Ottawa Police, Victim Services, Ottawa Hospitals for your quick response which helped me navigate through the initial shock and chaos that followed because of this tragedy.
Wickramasinghe also thanked the Buddhist Congress of Canada, the Ottawa Sri Lankan Community, and the people of Sri Lanka "for being a pillar of support during this unimaginably difficult time."
"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the public for their thoughts and prayers as I navigate through the aftermath of this tragedy," he added.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe extended his condolenses to the family during remarks made at the funeral.
"Your city is here with you. We will love and support you in the days ahead," said Sutcliffe.
"I want to express gratitude to the first responders that arrived on the scene. No amount of training could ever prepare a first responder, a police officer or paramedics. Our community is deeply grateful to you."
Principal of the Monsignor Paul Baxter School Vincenza Nicoletti, where four-year-old Ashwini and seven-year-old Inuka attended, remembered the two children with a statement from school staff.
Nicoletti noted how proud their parents were of them.
"Four-year-old Ashwini Wickramasinghe -- when she started school in September, she was quiet and shy. It was amazing to see Ashwini become more talkative throughout the year," Nicoletti said.
"She loved to play at the doll centre. Was always so proud to show what she had created at the art table."
Minister of Indigenous-Crown Relations Gary Anandasangaree, appearing on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also made remarks.
"There are no words to explain and to understand the enormous grief you are all experiencing today," he said.
"There will be difficult times ahead, but I can sure you this community will stand with you as we continue to mourn."
Barrhaven East city councillor Wilson Lo told CTV News Channel his community has rallied around the surviving father.
"He was there at the funeral today and it certainly was not easy to think about how his world has basically been taken away from him," Lo said.
"The best support you can get is from each other."
Six books of condolences were available for people to sign. Teddy bears and cards have been taken to the temple where the surviving father worships.
A mother, her four children, and a family acquaintance were killed inside a two-storey townhouse on Berrigan Drive in Barrhaven -- an Ottawa suburb -- on March 6. Their father was seriously injured in the attack, but survived.
The Wickramasinghe family is pictured here in this undated image. The four young children and their mother were killed in their Ottawa home on March 6, 2024 alongside a family friend. The father was seriously injured in the attack. A 19-year-old suspect is in custody and is facing multiple counts of first-degree murder.The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake and her four children: seven-year-old Inuka Wickramasinghe, four-year-old Ashwini Wickramasinghe, three-year-old Ranaya Wickramasinghe and two-month-old Kelly Wickramasinghe. A sixth man, 40-year-old Gamini Amarakoon Amarakoon Mudiyanselage, was also found deceased at the home. He had a wife and two children living in Sri Lanka.
The family had moved to Canada in recent months with three of their children -- the two-and-a-half month old infant was born in Canada.
Meanwhile, the suspect accused in the mass killing who was living rent free with the family -- Febrio De-Zoysa, 19 -- made a brief appearance in an Ottawa courtroom Thursday afternoon.
He appeared by phone before a date was set for his next court appearance on March 28.
His lawyer told CTV News Ottawa he is currently in protective custody.
De-Zoysa is facing six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
With files from the Canadian Press and CTV News Ottawa's Katie Griffin and Katelyn Wilson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
DEVELOPING Alberta's request for federal assistance approved after fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
Jasper mayor says alert system to be reviewed after message 'glitch'
More than 25,000 people have been displaced from Jasper National Park since wildfires started to threaten the picturesque corner of Alberta Rockies on Monday, but the mayor of its namesake municipality says not everyone received an evacuation alert when it was sent out.
Canada's premiers forced to confront escalating climate change-related disasters
Many of Canada's provincial and territorial leaders remained consumed by climate change-related natural disasters that have only escalated since they met for meetings in Halifax last week.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Unclaimed bodies are piling up in Newfoundland. A funeral director blames the government
A funeral director in St. John's says the bodies piling up in freezers at Newfoundland and Labrador's largest hospital likely belong to people whose loved ones couldn't get enough government help to pay for a funeral.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Monday breaks the record for the hottest day ever on Earth
Driven by oceans that won't cool down, an unseasonably warm Antarctica and worsening climate change, Earth's record hot streak dialed up this week, making Monday the hottest day humans have measured.
Prince Harry says lawsuits against U.K. press 'central piece' in family breakdown
Prince Harry, speaking in clips published on Wednesday from a new documentary, said his legal battles with Britain's tabloid press have contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with the royal family.