Dec 29, Galle: Sri Lankan government authorities today destroyed stocks of essential food items donated to the country as tsunami relief in 2004 by the United Nation's World Food Program.

Ashoka Jayasekara, District Secretary of Galle said the essential food stocks were destroyed as they have been stored in food warehouses in Boossa since December 2004 and now not suitable for human consumption.

According to the District Secretary 2,769 kgs of rice, 2,672 kgs of dhal, vegetable oil and canned fish were among the destroyed essential food items.

The District Secretariat has begun a special investigation on the issue as to why the food had not been distributed.