Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency as the country grapples with a severe economic crisis. The crisis has led to shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, and has sparked widespread protests.
The state of emergency gives the government sweeping powers to arrest and detain people without charge. It also gives the military the power to take over essential services.
The announcement of the state of emergency came hours after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. Rajapaksa was facing mounting pressure to resign after his government’s handling of the economic crisis.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been appointed acting president. He has vowed to address the economic crisis and restore order.
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka is the worst in the country’s history. The country is struggling to pay for imports of food, fuel, and medicine. The government has run out of foreign exchange reserves, and the Sri Lankan rupee has fallen sharply in value.
The crisis has led to widespread protests. In recent weeks, protesters have stormed government buildings and demanded the resignation of the president and prime minister.
The state of emergency is likely to further restrict the rights of the people of Sri Lanka. It is unclear how long the state of emergency will last, or what impact it will have on the country’s economic crisis.
Here are some of the reactions to the declaration of the state of emergency:
- The United Nations said it was “deeply concerned” about the declaration of the state of emergency.
- The United States said it was “monitoring the situation closely” and called for “all parties to exercise restraint.”
- The European Union said it was “following the developments with concern” and called for “a peaceful and democratic resolution to the crisis.”
The declaration of the state of emergency is a major development in the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka. It remains to be seen how the crisis will be resolved, and what impact the state of emergency will have on the country.