The United Nations World Food Programme and the U.S aid agency today announced emergency food assistance for the flood hit areas of Western Sri Lanka that has killed at least 17 people and affected over 4 lakh persons following heavy pre-monsoon rains during the last few days. In response to a request made by the Government of Sri Lanka, WFP approved an immediate response operation to distribute 800 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities, totaling almost 5 million Sri Lankan rupees. <br/>U.S Agency for International Development's Office of U.S Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has also announced nearly 6 million rupees (50,000 USD) to aid the flood victims.<br/> This is for the flood affected people in the most severely stricken districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara in the west. This food provision is expected to ease short term food insecurity caused by this untimely heavy pre-monsoon rains, a WFP release said here. This is being done in coordination with Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre and Ministry of Economic Development.<br/>