Lankan father and two children found dead in suspected murder-suicide in Australia

Australia Police believe Sri Lankan national 40-year-old Indika Gunathilaka murdered his four-year-old daughter and six-year-old son before ending his own life in the garage of their home on Essington Street in the southeast Perth suburb of Huntingdale.

Indika Gunathilaka is believed to have murdered his two children before ending his own life.

Authorities were alerted after they failed to arrive for a meeting with their mother and rushed to the home about 6.30pm Friday.

WA Police assistant commissioner for the metropolitan region Allan Adams told reporters initial investigations led police to believe there was no other person involved in the deaths.

Two days before the bodies of Mr Gunathilaka and the children were discovered, he shared a photo on Facebook of them all holding hands on a beach watching the sunset, their backs to the camera.

Before Christmas, Mr Gunathilaka used his Facebook profile to post a public 18-minute video in which he confirmed he suffered from depression, had been prescribed medication and had been seeing a psychologist.

He spoke of a “deep dark hole” people struggling could find themselves in and said “people suiciding always don’t intend to terminate their life”.

“What they want to end or terminate is the pain they’re in which is unbearable … there’s no coming back from it.

“Depression is one of the biggest killers … I know it too well.”

In the video, he said “we all make mistakes” and urged viewers to reach out and seek support for any issues they were having.

Mr Gunathilaka previously worked as a town planner and set up his own business IMG Town Planning and Development Solutions in 2014.

He was also a singer and founding committee member of the Western Australia Royal College Old Boys Association, a social group for Sri Lankan men.

As the family and community grappled with what had unfolded, a toy bear and rabbit were laid outside the home in a touching tribute to the two children.

Parts of Essington Street remained closed on Saturday afternoon as crime scene investigators searched for answers.

Assistant commissioner Adams said he expected they could be there until Sunday.

He would not comment on whether Mr Gunathilaka was known to police.