COLOMBO, May 7, 2022 (BSS/Xinhua) - Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
on Friday night declared a state of emergency amid public protests caused by
the economic crisis.

  In a special gazette issued by the president, it stated that emergency law
was declared in the interests of public security, the protection of public
order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of
the community.

  Sri Lanka has been plunged in weeks of economic crisis stemming from a
foreign exchange shortage which has led to a shortage in essential supplies
such as fuel, food and medicines.

   On April 1 a special gazette was issued declaring a public emergency in
Sri Lanka, which was revoked from midnight of April 5. Protests have been
ongoing for days calling on the government and lawmakers to find urgent
solutions.