Sri Lanka's crackdown on dogs for India PM's visit sparks protest

Sri Lankan animal rights activists marched on Thursday to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Authorities in Colombo and the Buddhist pilgrim city of Anuradhapura have reportedly deployed dog catchers to impound hounds ahead of Modi's visit, which begins on Friday.

Many of Colombo's strays are beloved by their adopted neighbourhoods despite lacking formal owners -- and are dubbed "community" canines rather than street dogs.