The father and husband of two Australians killed in the Sri Lanka terror attacks has described the moment he found his daughter dead and his wife dying next to her.
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Sudesh Kolonne told the ABC he was standing outside when a bomb rocked a church in Negombo, north of the capital Colombo.
"I heard a huge noise and I jumped into the church and I saw that my wife and my daughter were on the floor," he said.
"I just saw my daughter on the floor and I tried to lift her up, [but] she was already dead. And [then] exactly the same... next my wife is there."
Australian woman Manik Suriaaratchi and her 10-year-old daughter Alexendria were killed in coordinated attacks that have claimed at least 290 lives and injured more than 500 people.
It is believed Mr Kolonne had just dropped off the pair at the church.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would be speaking to Mr Kolonne later on Tuesday to offer support.
"It is just the most sickening of news," the prime minister told Seven's Sunrise.
"I can't imagine what it's like for him to lose a little 10-year-old girl, to lose his wife, Manik.
"His whole world has been rocked by these events. We just have to reach out and hold them and hold each other as Australians."
Ms Suriaaratchi was the founder and managing director of Omega Global, a business management company, according to her profile for the 2018 Asia Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference.
It described her as an entrepreneur with an MBA, Masters in Commercial Law, and a Bachelor in Aeronautical Engineering, who had previously worked at NAB and Qantas.
Friend Tim Wedande told The Age he'd known Ms Suriaaratchi for 18 years - back when she was a student working at his parents' restaurant, Araliya, in Hawthorn, which has since moved to St Kilda.
He added to the growing portrait of her as a fiercely intelligent and accomplished woman.
"She was a caring individual and also a great entrepreneur within Australia, working with (the) Australian high commission and on projects including dengue eradication in Sri Lanka. She will be sorely missed by many," Mr Wedande said.
A friend said both Mr Kolonne and Ms Suriaaratchi came from affluent families and worked extensively in the community. Mr Kolonne, who works as an aircraft engineer, was also closely involved in Melbourne cricket clubs, the friend said.
Another friend from Melbourne, Chani Gerkens, said she had fond memories of Alexendria as a happy toddler who loved dancing.
Members of Melbourne's large Sri Lankan community came together in grief and disbelief on Monday as they tried to comprehend the horror of the attacks.
Holding posters saying "Raise your voice against terrorism", "Pray for Sri Lanka" and "United we stand", about 120 people gathered in Federation Square and then on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral to light candles and pray.
- with AAP
