Elephant kills two in Sri Lanka

Elephants often stray into populated areas

Police in eastern Sri Lanka say a wild elephant has run amok killing two people and injuring three others before it was shot dead.

Officers said the elephant strayed into the town of Mahindapura in the district of Ampara, destroying a number of vehicles and homes.

They tried to capture the elephant, which had escaped from a nearby sanctuary, but could not control it.

Elephants kill about 50 people each year in Sri Lanka.

The country has about 3,500 elephants and hundreds stray each year into populated areas in search of food and water.

Farmers shoot dead about 150 every year.