A horrifying incident unfolded on Vavuniya Tonical Circular Road in the early hours of the morning when a group of masked assailants armed with swords and sticks stormed into a house during a birthday party, leaving devastation in their wake.

According to reports from Vavuniya Police, the assailants launched a vicious attack on the unsuspecting residents, locking them inside the house before proceeding to hurl a petrol bomb into the property.

The terrifying combination of violence and fire quickly engulfed the premises, resulting in the complete destruction of the house.

Nine party attendees managed to escape from the blazing inferno, but tragically, one young woman, identified as Fatima Samma Safeedir (21), lost her life in the brutal attack and fire. Fatima was found dead inside the burnt-out house, succumbing to her injuries sustained during the ordeal.