Family of Ottawa mass murder victims calls on immigration department for help

Family of Ottawa Mass Murder Victims Seeks Immigration Support

OTTAWA — The brother and father of an Ottawa man, whose wife and four children were tragically killed in a mass stabbing last year, are appealing to the federal government for assistance with immigration issues.

Details of the Incident and Legal Outcome

Febrio De-Zoysa was sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the March 2024 murders of Darshani Ekanayake, her four children—including a two-month-old infant—and their family friend, Gamini Amarakoon. The attack occurred in an Ottawa townhouse.

Febrio De-Zoysa was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing Darshani Ekanayake, her four children, and their family friend in March 2024.

Survivor and Family Immigration Challenges

The children's father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, was injured but survived the attack. Nearly a year ago, his application for permanent residency on compassionate grounds was approved in principle; however, he has received no further updates.

Wickramasinghe’s brother and father, who arrived in Canada after the murders to support him, have not received any information regarding their own permanent residency applications. Additionally, Wickramasinghe’s brother is seeking an extension of his temporary resident permit to continue working.

Requests to Government

"His application for permanent residency on compassionate grounds was approved in principle almost a year ago, but he has heard nothing about it since."

The family’s situation highlights ongoing struggles faced by survivors and relatives seeking to establish stability after a devastating tragedy.

Author's summary: The Ottawa mass stabbing victims' family faces ongoing immigration hurdles, appealing to the government for timely support to reunite and rebuild their lives in Canada.

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CityNews Toronto CityNews Toronto — 2025-11-07

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