OttawaIn the comforting quiet of a Buddhist temple, candles glow and incense sweetens the air as the lone survivor of one of Ottawa’s worst tragedies bows his head in silent prayer. Here, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe finds the strength he’s needed to keep going. Dhanushka Wickramasinghe was sole survivor of March 2024 rampage in BarrhavenDavid Fraser · CBC News · Posted: Nov 19, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Survivor of 2024 Barrhaven mass killing leaning on faithSpeaking publicly for the first time since the sentencing of the man who murdered his wife and four children, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe says the support of his faith community has helped him get through his difficult experience.In the comforting peace of a Buddhist temple, candles glow and incense sweetens the air as the lone survivor of one of Ottawa’s worst tragedies bows his head. Here, as monks chant in prayer, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, 40, finds the strength he’s needed to keep going. “The only reason I’m standing is because of Buddhism,” he says. Earlier this month, Febrio De Zoysa pleaded guilty to murdering Wickramasinghe’s wife, their four children and a close family friend in a mass stabbing the judge described as “monstrous.””I’ll always remember that day,” Wickramasinghe said of the night in March 2024. “I always wanted justice, and I got justice, so that’s good.” ‘Everything is impermanent’: Survivor reflects on Barrhaven killings, one year laterIt’s the first time he’s spoken publicly since his family’s killer was sentenced.Adding to the tragedy, Wickramasinghe and his family had welcomed and supported De Zoysa, a young student from their native Sri Lanka.During his guilty plea, the murderer told court the family had shown him nothing but kindness.”I just tried to help him,” Wickramasinghe said. “At the end of the day he came back and destroyed my everything — my life, my family, my whole world.”Forgotten, but not forgivenWickramasinghe, who arrived home after it was too late to help, was the sole survivor of De Zoysa’s rampage. Stabbed six times, bleeding and disoriented, he managed to escape but endured multiple surgeries in the days that followed.He recalls vividly the moment his worst fears were confirmed as he lay in hospital.”Two detectives came to my bed and said, ‘Nobody was alive, he killed everybody,'” he recalls quietly. So I can’t say forgiveness, but I don’t think about him.- Dhanushka WickramasingheWith De Zoysa now behind bars, Wickramasinghe says he’s not dwelling on the man who murdered his family. “Forgiveness, if I do or don’t, my family won’t come back,” he said. “So I can’t say forgiveness, but I don’t think about him.”Ottawa’s Sri Lankan and Buddhist communities have been a constant support, Wickramasinghe said.Immigration lawyer Ronalee Carey has been trying to help Dhanushka Wickramasinghe’s relatives come to Canada where they hope to continue supporting him. (Mathieu Deroy/CBC)Relatives want to stayWickramasinghe’s father and brother rushed to Ottawa after the murders, and now want to stay in Canada to continue supporting him.The bereaved man’s brother Chelaka Wickramasinghe, 35, has not received approval to bring his own wife and daughter here, however, and said if he returns to Sri Lanka he won’t be able to come back.”I have not been able to see my little girl in [nearly] two years,” the brother said. Lawyer Ronalee Carey continues to appeal to the federal government on the family’s behalf to allow Wickramasinghe’s relatives to remain in Canada, but said it could be a decade before their applications are processed. “I would think most people would say the whole family should be allowed to stay together,” Carey said. “So much was taken away from them, the very least we can do as Canadians is allow them to stay and build a life here.”Dhanushka Wickramasinghe says despite everything that has happened here, Canada is where he made his home, and Canada is where he wants to rebuild his life.”I love this place,” he said. “Even though I lost everything, this is the place I got everything.”ABOUT THE AUTHORDavid Fraser is an Ottawa-based journalist for CBC News who previously reported in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
His family’s killer sentenced, lone survivor of 2024 rampage seeks peace
