Sri Lankans urged to search for President`s missing macaws

Colombo: Four macaws belonging to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse have escaped his tightly-guarded official residence in Colombo, his office said today as it appealed for help to trace the colourful long-tailed birds.

"The president is very fond of these birds," an official in his office told AFP, adding that he also cared for other species at the colonial-era President`s House in the capital Colombo.

The macaws went missing from their aviary during the traditional New Year holidays this week. Rajapakse`s office released photos of three of them on Wednesday and appealed for help to find them.

Macaws -- a species of parrot -- are not indigenous to Sri Lanka, but several pet stores import them from South America.