March 18, Canada (LNW): A somber gathering took place on Sunday as mourners, numbering more than a hundred, converged at the Infinity Convention Centre to bid farewell to the Sri Lankan family tragically slain in one of Ottawa’s most devastating mass killings.
During the multi-faith service, attendees paid their respects to the six victims, including four children, whose lives were cut short on March 6 within a townhouse in Ottawa’s Barrhaven suburb.
Addressing the grieving assembly, Ajahn Viradhammo, a monk, implored those mourning worldwide to find solace in supporting each other rather than succumbing to despair or anger.
“While we in the Ottawa area grapple with this tragedy, its reverberations are felt across the globe,” he remarked. “In these moments of darkness, let us draw strength from the compassion and wisdom inherent in our faith. We gather united by our shared humanity and our steadfast commitment to compassion.”
Among the victims were 35-year-old Darshani Ekanayake and her four children, aged between two months and seven years, as well as a close family friend.
Ekanayake’s husband and the father of the children, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, remains hospitalised with injuries to his hands and face.
Wickramasinghe, visibly distraught, was seen praying at the ceremony, surrounded by grieving relatives. Funeral organisers noted his request for privacy to mourn his family’s loss while expressing gratitude for the overwhelming public support received.
The ceremony, marked by poignant moments, featured five coffins at the forefront, including three smaller ones for the children and two larger ones.
The heartfelt service included Buddhist rituals and reflections from clergy of diverse faiths, offering prayers for strength to the surviving relatives.
Dignitaries from various levels of government echoed calls for unity, emphasising the need to support the grieving families through their trying times.
“We must continue to embrace these two families,” remarked Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “They face many difficult days and challenges ahead.”
The Wickramasinghe family, recent immigrants to Canada from Sri Lanka, included a child born in the country.
Police swiftly arrested a 19-year-old Sri Lankan man, Febrio De-Zoysa, on the evening of the attack, charging him with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
De-Zoysa, an international student who had been residing with the family, remains in protective custody as the investigation unfolds.
