Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has declared a state of emergency in the country
He has been appointed acting president, according to the parliament’s speaker, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country
Police have fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters outside the prime minister’s office
A curfew has been imposed in Western Province, which includes the capital Colombo
For months people have been struggling with daily power cuts and shortages of basics like fuel, food and medicines
Thousands have taken to the streets in anger in recent weeks, with many blaming the Rajapaksa family and their government for the situation
BBC
