Lanka's central town under police curfew after violence

Several shops and houses were set on fire in Sri Lanka's Kandy administrative district following violent clashes between two groups, police said today.

An assault over a personal dispute had spread into a riot, police said.

Police used tear gas to disperse an unruly mob after several shops and houses were set on fire.

"Kandy's Theldeniya police division has been placed under a police curfew till 6 am on March 6," police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

The elite special task force was deployed in the riot-hit area.