May 31, Colombo: The residents of Athawetunawewa village in the Vauniya district, Welioya Defense Colony in Sri Lanka are reportedly fleeing the area due to mortar attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), sources from the area said.

One Army soldier was killed in the mortar attacks and seven persons including an Army officer, a home guard and two women were hospitalized with injuries, defense sources said.

The first mortar was fired around 10 a.m. and the next fell as the officials reached the sight.

Athawetunawewa is situated in the controversial Welioya defense colony established in late 1980s in the northern most edge of the Sinhalese settlements and the area is continuously aimed for the fatal attacks by the Tamil Tigers.