'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
'The world is too messy for bureaucratic hurdles': Canada still bars Afghanistan aid
Ottawa has plans to finally stop blocking Canadian development aid to Afghanistan this year.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as possible Rafah offensive looms
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Russia renews attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia
Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs files motion to dismiss some claims in a sexual assault lawsuit
Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs pushed back against a woman's lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault, filing a motion on Friday to dismiss some claims that were not under law when the alleged incident occurred.