News
Lankan student jailed for life for killing Sri Lankan family in Canada
The Sri Lanka man, who pleaded guilty to killing a Sri Lankan mother, her four children, and a family friend, in a mass stabbing, in Ottawa, in 2024, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.
Febrio De-Zoysa pleaded guilty to four counts of first degree murder, two counts of second degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
The judge presiding over the case called it one of the worst crimes in the city’s history and said it has “shocked” the community and “shaken it to its core.”
The victims’ family members read out impact statements to a packed courtroom yesterday.
Thirty-five-year-old Darshani Ekanayake and her four children, who ranged in age from two months to seven years old, along with 40-year-old Gamini Amarakoon, were killed in the attack.
De-Zoysa was a 19-year-old international student living at the family’s rented townhouse at the time of the murders.
De-Zoysa had stabbed Amarakoon to death in the basement and soon after told Dhanushka on the phone that the alarming sounds his family heard were from a horror film on television they were watching.
He managed to convince the family that everything was fine, then headed up stairs and stabbed all four children and Darshani to death. Darshani held her baby in her arms and failed to fend off the attacks.
The court heard De-Zoysa told police that he had watched TikTok videos trying to calm himself down before attacking the father when he came home many hours later.
Dhanushka came home late after working two jobs that day when De-Zoysa attacked him.
He told the court De-Zoysa struck him multiple times, stabbing his face and chest. He tried to escape to his family upstairs — who in fact were dead in the basement — but the doors were locked and he was stabbed again.
Dhanushka managed to fend off De-Zoysa’s attacks and overpower him, then ran outside, covered in blood and wailing. Police were called and De-Zoysa was arrested.
Dhanushka was stabbed six times in total, suffering extensive pain and nerve damage and losing multiple fingers. He told the court he lost his family, his home and livelihood in the “unbearable tragedy.”
Justice Kevin Phillips called it one of the worst crimes in the city’s history, telling De-Zoysa he destroyed “two beautiful families” and shook the community “to its core.”
Phillips said De-Zoysa violated the trust of a family that took him into their home and that he used the knife to “grotesque effect.” He called the level of violence involved “stupefying, monstrous — even demonic.”
“You are the stuff of nightmares,” the judge said. “You have caused so much loss and grief. If I could give consecutive life sentences, I would.”(GlobalNews)
The warning mentioned in the flood warning message No. 01 issued for the Aththanagalu Oya basin on 22.05.2026 at about 5.30 am will be extended for the next 48 hours.
It is requested that residents in the area and vehicle drivers running through those areas pay high attention in this regard by the . Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take adequate precautions in this regard
Heavy and persistent rains lashed several parts of Sri Lanka yesterday, triggering flooding, transport disruptions, flight diversions and multiple disaster warnings as water levels rose in key river basins and low-lying urban areas.
The worst affected situation was reported along the Colombo–Avissawella main road, where floodwaters submerged sections of the highway, bringing vehicular movement to a standstill at several points, including the Puwakpitiya-Thummodara junction, the Seethawaka Botanical Garden area, and parts of Yatiyantota. Traffic was also severely disrupted along the Delgoda–Belumahara road at Udupila, and the Gampaha–Miriswatta road, due to inundation, while movement on the Divulapitiya–Mirigama route was restricted for light vehicles, following flooding at Ullalapitiya.
In the Kelani River Valley, rising water levels, following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas, prompted warnings of possible minor flooding within the next 48 hours. The Irrigation Department cautioned that areas, including Hanwella, Seethawaka, Dompe, Padukka, Homagama, Biyagama, Kaduwela, Kolonnawa, Kelaniya, Wattala and Colombo, could be affected. The flood alert, issued at 10:00 am yesterday, remains valid for 48 hours, until Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued landslide warnings covering six districts—Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura. Red alerts were issued for Dehiowita, in Kegalle and Ratnapura, while amber and yellow warnings were declared for several vulnerable divisions, including Seethawaka, Padukka, Attanagalla, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala, Ruwanwella, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Pelmadulla, Yatiyantota, Ambagamuwa, Eheliyagoda, Nivithigala and Kalawana.
In the civil aviation sector, poor visibility and heavy rain around Katunayake forced the diversion of around six inbound flights, bound for Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, as a precautionary measure.
The Department of Meteorology reported that the highest rainfall recorded was 336.5 mm in Pambegama, Kegalle, between Thursday morning and Friday morning, underscoring the intensity of the ongoing weather system.
Authorities have urged the public, in affected districts, to remain vigilant, avoid flood-prone roads, and adhere to disaster warnings as adverse weather conditions are expected to persist.
by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
Twenty-one alleged underworld operatives, deported from Dubai, were taken into custody by the CID, upon their arrival at the Mattala International Airport yesterday, Police said.
The suspects, including alleged organised crime figures, known as “Mahawatta Chamara” and “Kudu Duminda,” were arrested within the airport premises, shortly after disembarking from several inbound flights that had been diverted to Mattala, due to adverse weather conditions affecting operations at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), in Katunayake.
Police said the group had been residing overseas for an extended period while allegedly continuing to direct organised criminal activities and narcotics trafficking operations in Sri Lanka.
According to law enforcement authorities, the deportees were among a group of wanted criminal suspects linked to underworld networks and ongoing investigations into organised crime activities.
Senior Police officials stated that “Mahawatta Chamara” is expected to be handed over to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau for further investigations, while inquiries into the activities and alleged criminal links of the remaining suspects are also continuing.
Police sources said the deportees arrived in the country during the early hours of yesterday after flights originating from Dubai were rerouted to the Mattala Airport.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific charges pending against the suspects, but investigators believe several of them maintained operational ties to criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking and other organised crimes, despite being based overseas.
The CID has commenced extensive investigations to determine the extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement in underworld activities and their connections to ongoing criminal operations in the country.
by Norman Palihawadane
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Flood warning issued to the Aththanagalu Oya basin extended until 0600AM on Monday [25]
About 100 mm rainfall likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts
Torrential rains cause havoc countrywide
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