Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksha imposes state of emergency after unrest

Sri Lanka’s president on Friday night declared a state of emergency giving sweeping powers to security forces a day after hundreds tried to storm his house in anger over an unprecedented economic crisis.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invoked the tough laws allowing the military to arrest and detain suspects for long periods without trial as demonstrations calling for his ouster spread across the South Asian nation.

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The emergency was declared for “protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community,” he said in a proclamation.

The nation of 22 million is facing severe shortages of essentials, sharp price rises and crippling power cuts in its most painful downturn since independence from Britain in 1948.

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On Friday, the police reimposed a nighttime curfew in the Western Province, which includes the capital Colombo, expanding the no-go zone from the previous night.

Meanwhile, dozens of rights activists carried handwritten placards and oil lamps in the capital while demonstrating at a busy intersection.

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“Time to quit Rajapaksas,” said one placard. “No more corruption, go home Gota,” said another, referring to the president.

The southern towns of Galle, Matara and Moratuwa also witnessed anti-government protests, and similar demonstrations were reported in the northern and central regions.

Thursday night’s unrest outside the president’s private home saw hundreds of people demand he step down.

The crowd turned violent, setting ablaze two military buses, a police jeep, two patrol motorcycles and a three-wheeler. They also threw bricks at officers.