More than 300 people gathered in the suburban Ottawa neighbourhood of Barrhaven Saturday for a community vigil following what police have called one of the worst mass killings in the region’s recent history.

Ottawa Police Service said Thursday that the homicide unit was called in after six people — four children and two adults — were found dead inside a home in the city’s west-end suburb on Wednesday night, the Global News reported.

“My daughter played with their kids a lot… On New Year’s at the temple they were all playing together so it’s really hard to see that this happened,” said one neighbour, Mirissa Kumar, through tears.

One of the victims was a woman, Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, and her two-and-a-half-month-old baby. Police allege 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa murdered Ekanayake, her four children and a family acquaintance.

The father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

De-Zoysa, who had been boarding with the Wickramasinghe family, is facing six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Ottawa confirmed to Global News that the two adult victims are Sri Lankan nationals.

Neighbours and friends gathered in reflection and fellowship at a community park Saturday afternoon, just a block away from the home where the Wickramasinghe family were building their new life in Canada.

On and around benches, community members laid heartfelt notes, teddy bears, bouquets of flowers and balloons among other items to pay their respects.

Naradha Kodituwakku from the Buddhist Congress of Canada, spoke to the crowd. “Ottawa Sri Lankan community, I know you’re hurting and we are hurting with you,” he said as his voice cracked with emotion.

A number of attendees at the vigil knew the mother, Dharshani, and her four children personally. Some brought photos and shared memories with others in the community.

Neighbours of the family struggled with the senseless violence, including Rochelle LaChance, who lives just a few houses down from where the homicides occurred.

“It’s been weighing heavy on a lot of us… it’s nice to see everyone together and have this space to grieve. I know this is going to take a long time and I really feel for the family and all the friends involved,” she told Global News.

Another neighbour, Daniel Bordage, shared a similar sentiment. “What the kids went through, for me, is the hardest thing to be honest. And I have young kids as well,” he told Global News.

Neighbour Wilson Lo said: “I’m still thinking of the kids at the school who may not fully understand why two of their friends won’t be there anymore.”

The surviving father, Dhanushka, is currently recovering in hospital from two surgeries for wounds suffered in the attack that killed his family. Once he’s released, those at the Buddhist temple where Dhanushka and his family prayed say they are ready to take him in and care for him.

“I know it may take some time for him to… feel some freedom from this suffering,” said Monk Bhante Suneetha from the Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery at the vigil. Arrangements are also being made to bring other remaining family members in Sri Lanka, such as Dhanushka’s brothers, to Ottawa.

Kodituwakku said at the vigil that Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs confirmed that two autopsies have been completed, meaning funerals could be held early next week. “We heard Monday or Tuesday, but we are not sure,” he said.

Stubbs, who was also at the vigil, said it was important to him and his team to be there with the community. “We are part of the community too,” he said.

The accused aunt Anusha De-Zoysa told Global News Friday that Febrio came to Canada two years ago and was a “quiet” and “good student.” However, she noted that his behaviour recently started to change.

She says De-Zoysa stayed with relatives in Ottawa, before moving in with the Wickramasinghe family, but says he recently cut off his relatives.

Police have yet to identify a possible motive for the killings, and none of the allegations against De-Zoysa have been proven in court. But those who attended the vigil Saturday to comfort and console their neighbours and friends still struggle with a key question: Why did this happen?

Stubbs says his team is working on getting answers to the public as soon as possible.

“When there’s something this impactful, there’s a large appetite to find out why… But it’s important that we be very measured in what we release to the public,” he said.

Stubbs says Ottawa police will continue to be there to support community leaders as the investigation goes on.

“Here’s the thing, there’s a lot of negativity and a lot of darkness with this, but I’m seeing a lot of positivity as well… The people coming together and supporting each other is so important, and we’re seeing that here now,” he said.

A series of events will be held over a period of three days beginning today (17) in the Northern and Eastern regions as well as Colombo to mark the end of war 15 years ago.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (16) said that nominee to be the next US Ambassador to Colombo Elizabeth K. Horst had revealed that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government announced a ban on foreign research vessels’ entry into Sri Lankan waters on January 1 this year at the behest of the US.

The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar acquitted the four accused including a Major involved in the shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of three individuals and the injury of several others during a protest for clean drinking water in Rathupaswala on August 1, 2013.

Former Army Commander General Mahesh Senanayake who joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today has been appointed the head of the party's Ranaviru Balakaya. Ranawiru Balakaya is a group of ex-military men who support the SJB. He received the appointment from Party Leader Sajith Premadasa this morning.

The Indian Navy has arrested 14 Sri Lankan fishermen along with five boats for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and for fishing sea cucumber on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

Showery and windy conditions arebexpected to enhance during th enext few days from today evening due to pre-monsoonal conditions over the country and surrounding sea areas. Heavy rainfall above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Western,Sabaragamuwa, North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Over 70 international transitional justice and human rights scholars have urged the Sri Lankan Government to halt the establishment of a Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation (CTUR) as it has been rejected by victim groups and the broader national context is not conducive for such a process.

Former Speaker and National Movement for Social Justice Chairperson Karu Jayasuriya voiced his profound regret yesterday over the Police’s handling of the porridge distribution event in Sampur commemorating the victims of the war and enforced disappearances.

General Secretary of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, is scheduled to visit Mullivaikkal, in the Mullaithivu District, where the combined security forces defeated the LTTE.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe will attend the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting in Indonesia, from 18 - 20 May at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

A specialized delegation will leave for Russia on the direction of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to investigate into the welfare of Sri Lankans amidst the on-going Russian-Ukraine war, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya said today.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) national list MP Mayantha Dissanayake has been appointed as the party's District Leader for Nuwara Eliya. Dissanayake, who made this announcement at a media briefing said he has also been appointed as the party organiser for the Nuwara Eliya constituency.

Claiming that relatives and comrades have a right to commemorate the war dead, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said today that the government must take steps to protect their rights.

A new election focused alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva faction and the group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna breakaway Opposition Parliamentarians led by Nimal Lanza is to be launched next month (June) from Hambantota, said Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

In response to complaints received regarding questions 09 and 39 of the GCE (O/L) Science Paper 1, the Examinations Commissioner General has announced a decision to award two free marks to all candidates who attempted these questions.

In the wake of the recent mass withdrawal of AstraZeneca vaccines due to concerns over rare blood clots, Sri Lanka health experts emphasized that individuals who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine need not harbour undue fears regarding its safety.

A delegation comprising 15 officials of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court completed a four-day training programme from May 9 to13 at the Supreme Court of India, a statement from the Indian High Commission said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed Prime Minister and Local Government (LG) Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to look into the possibility of invalidating the nominations accepted for the postponed 2023 (last year) LG elections.

Three females and a male were arrested by the Sampur Police on Sunday night for violating a court order by holding a commemoration event in remembrance of the Mullivaikkal war dead. According to sources, the arrested had allegedly distributed porridge to neighbours in memory of their relatives who were killed during the armed conflict.

United States’ Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (13) at the Presidential Secretariat.