Dhanushka Wickramasinghe thought his days of living alone in Ottawa were behind him.
His home in the suburb of Barrhaven would be quiet when he got back from work a bit shy of 11 p.m., but the happy tumult of a house full of kids would surely resume in the morning.
It wasn91裸聊视频檛 always this way: Wickramasinghe had spent several lonely years alone in Canada, working to establish himself, his family still back home in Sri Lanka.
Last summer came the happy reunion with his wife Darshani Ekanyake, a teacher, and their three young children. Months later, more joy 91裸聊视频� a baby girl named Kelly.
But on Wednesday, a waking nightmare was unfolding on the other side of Wickramasinghe91裸聊视频檚 front door.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 in shock, great shock,91裸聊视频� said Bhante Suneetha, a resident monk at the family91裸聊视频檚 local temple who would later learn the details at Wickramasinghe91裸聊视频檚 hospital bedside.
As he wrestled with his assailant, Wickramasinghe felt the sting of a knife or other edged weapon 91裸聊视频� police would later call it a 91裸聊视频渒nife-like object91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� slashing across his face.
He was stabbed in the chest and in the back. At least one of his fingers was lopped off. Blood was everywhere.
Inside, his entire family was already dead.
91裸聊视频淭hat murderer hit him and you know, stab him,91裸聊视频� Suneetha said. 91裸聊视频淏ut the father tried to manage him and hold him.91裸聊视频�
Wickramasinghe demanded to know from his attacker if his family had been hurt. The answer of 91裸聊视频渘o91裸聊视频� was a lie. Also lying dead was Gamini Amarakoon Amarakoon Mudiyanselage, a family friend.
Wickramasinghe ran back outside 91裸聊视频� screaming, bleeding, inconsolable. Neighbours summoned the police, who arrived minutes later and subdued the attacker.
The kids were identified as a seven-year-old son, Inuka Wickramasinghe, and three daughters: Ashwini, 4; Ranyana, 3; and Kelly, two-and-a-half months.
Febrio De-Zoysa, a 19-year-old international student who was staying with the family, now faces six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
De-Zoysa, also a Sri Lankan national, had moved into the family91裸聊视频檚 basement in recent months. Earlier this month, they all celebrated his birthday together.
Wickramasinghe had even met the suspect91裸聊视频檚 parents in Sri Lanka, Suneetha recounted.
But all was not well with De-Zoysa, who had dropped out of school and was also having thoughts of suicide, Suneetha said.
A spokesperson for Algonquin College confirmed that De-Zoysa had been a student there, last attending in the winter 2023 semester.
In an interview with Global News, the suspect91裸聊视频檚 aunt, Anusha, said the family had been 91裸聊视频渟o nice to him.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 still shaking,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hey were such a wonderful family.91裸聊视频�
De-Zoysa arrived in Canada two years ago, she told Global. He lived with his aunt during his first month in the country, then later met Wickramasinghe at Algonquin.
Then suddenly, he seemed to break off all contact with his relatives, blocking their phone numbers and social media accounts, she said.
The landlord of the Ottawa townhouse where the family lived said he had no idea anyone other than the couple and their kids were living at the home.
Harpreet Chhabra was checking his bags at the airport Thursday morning, en route to a family vacation in Mexico, when police called with the news.
91裸聊视频淭his can91裸聊视频檛 be true,91裸聊视频� he thought to himself. 91裸聊视频淎 young family, six people murdered on my property 91裸聊视频� my heart goes out to them.91裸聊视频�
In the aftermath of the attack, Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 Sri Lankan community has rallied behind Wickramasinghe, described by many as a kind and helpful man.
His brother and father will soon arrive from Sri Lanka to help in his emotional recovery 91裸聊视频� a harrowing road made smoother by the outpouring of public support.
De-Zoysa is scheduled to be back in court on March 13.
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Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press
