COLOMBO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Italy's ambassador to Sri Lanka and six servicemen were slightly injured on Tuesday when a delegation of diplomats led by the island's human rights minister came under rebel shelling in the restive east, officials said.

"The Italian ambassador was admitted to hospital with light injuries to his head," a member of the elite Special Task Force police commandos said on condition of anonymity. The military confirmed an ambassador had been hurt.

The attack came as helicopters carrying Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe as well as ambassadors from the United States, European Union, Canada and Germany and France landed in the restive eastern district of Batticaloa on a goodwill mission.

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