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 wasn害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所� a baby girl named Kelly.

But on Wednesday, a waking nightmare was unfolding on the other side of Wickramasinghe害羞草研究所檚 front door.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 in shock, great shock,害羞草研究所� said Bhante Suneetha, a resident monk at the family害羞草研究所檚 local temple who would later learn the details at Wickramasinghe害羞草研究所檚 hospital bedside.

As he wrestled with his assailant, Wickramasinghe felt the sting of a knife or other edged weapon 害羞草研究所� police would later call it a 害羞草研究所渒nife-like object害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淭hat murderer hit him and you know, stab him,害羞草研究所� Suneetha said. 害羞草研究所淏ut the father tried to manage him and hold him.害羞草研究所�

Wickramasinghe demanded to know from his attacker if his family had been hurt. The answer of 害羞草研究所渘o害羞草研究所� was a lie. Also lying dead was Gamini Amarakoon Amarakoon Mudiyanselage, a family friend.

Wickramasinghe ran back outside 害羞草研究所� 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 family害羞草研究所檚 basement in recent months. Earlier this month, they all celebrated his birthday together.

Wickramasinghe had even met the suspect害羞草研究所檚 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 suspect害羞草研究所檚 aunt, Anusha, said the family had been 害羞草研究所渟o nice to him.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 still shaking,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hey were such a wonderful family.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淭his can害羞草研究所檛 be true,害羞草研究所� he thought to himself. 害羞草研究所淎 young family, six people murdered on my property 害羞草研究所� my heart goes out to them.害羞草研究所�

In the aftermath of the attack, Ottawa害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所� 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