8 May, 2022: A state of emergency has been declared for the second time in five weeks as the country faces a deepening economic crisis.
Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency this friday, granting additional powers to the armed forces.This has been done to deal with the increasing anti-government protests that are happening all throughout the country.
A spokesman on behalf of the president told the press that these measures are being taken in order to "ensure public order".
The Island nation's trade unions had organised a nationwide strike on Friday demanding the resignation of the Sri Lankan president, as well as his cabinet.
Earlier today, police had to resort to tear gas and water cannons in order to prevent students from trying to storm Sri Lanka's parliament. There have been frequent outbreaks of violence at the numerous protests happening throughout the country.Public anger has sparked sustained protests demanding the government's resignation over its mismanagement of the crisis, which is being said to be the country's worst economic crisis since it gained independence in 1948.
"We can pinpoint the policy blunders of the President that led to this very sorry state of our economy," said trade union leader Ravi Kumudesh. "He must go."