Sri Lanka flood victims protest over food aid

Source: AFP

COLOMBO — Hundreds of flood victims in Sri Lanka besieged a district office in the eastern town of Kathankudi complaining about unfair distribution of emergency food aid, police said Tuesday.

Local media reports said three civil servants were hospitalised after being attacked by the furious crowd, but police said they were unable to confirm any injuries during Monday's protests.

"Officers were called in and we managed to bring the situation under control," police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said. "A decision was then taken to distribute aid through cooperative stores rather than government offices."

More than a million people were temporarily displaced last week after heavy monsoon rains that claimed the lives of at least 43 people.



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