Sri Lanka has announced a statewide state of emergency, a day after violent protests outside the president’s residence turned violent.
On Thursday, protesters broke over barricades and set fire to vehicles near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence.
The emergency was called for the “protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services necessary to the community’s life.”
Military has been deployed, and they now have the authority to arrest people without a warrant.
Sri Lanka is experiencing a severe economic downturn. In its most devastating downturn since gaining independence from Britain in 1948, the 22-million populated country is experiencing significant shortages of essentials, dramatic price increases, and crippling power outages.
A paucity of foreign currency, which is used to pay for fuel imports, contributes to the problem. Public outrage in the 22-million island nation has reached unprecedented heights as a result of power outages lasting half a day or longer, as well as a dearth of fuel, basic food, and medicines.
