Officials suspended for mishandling tsunami aid

The Sri Lankan government has suspended three village officials for mishandling aid to tsunami survivors and 10 others were being investigated on similar charges, an official said today.

Millions of dollars in aid has poured into Sri Lanka since the St Stephen's Day tsunami, which killed nearly 31,000 people on the island nation and left hundreds of thousands homeless or in need.

Some survivors complain that they have not received promised food rations.

Two village officials were accused of channelling aid to friends who were not affected by the killer waves, said a government administrator in Galle, one of the areas that was hardest hit.

They “have been suspended from work with immediate effect,” he said, adding that 10 others were being investigated on similar charges.

Another official in Matara district was also suspended today for being under the influence of alcohol while on duty.

The stern steps were the first taken by the government since the government’s relief aid chief admitted on Wednesday that 70% of survivors haven’t received anything because of bureaucratic bungling and incompetence.