Emergency declared in Sri Lanka, PM Ranil Wickramasinghe takes over as Acting President

New Delhi: After days of turbulence and upheaval, Sri Lanka on Wednesday declared a state of emergency and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe taking over as the Acting President of the country. The economic troubles of island nation has triggered uproarious protests and stir by citizens and continues to get groundswell of support with each passing day.

PM becomes acting President only if the President appoints him as such, or if the office of President is vacant, or if the CJ in consultation with the Speaker forms the view that the President is unable to act.

— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) July 13, 2022

Today, the protesters assembled outside the residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe in Colombo and held demonstrations. This comes amid news reports claiming that the Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled to Maldives in a military aircraft.

Sri Lankan troops have been trying hard to keep the situation under control. However, the simmering anger of people over ‘country plunging into darkness’ has led to series of flare-ups with police personnel. Days ago, they stormed the Presidential Palace and took seize of the structure for couple of hours.

Tear gas shells fired to control rampaging mob

#WATCH | Sri Lanka: Protestors run to safety after security forces use tear-gas shells outside the premises of Sri Lankan PM’s residence in Colombo#SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/zlFZKVg0Lv

— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2022

Amid the slogan-shouting and violent stir by thousands of demonstrators, the Sri Lankan police fired tear gas shells to disperse the protestors. The protesters were demanding that Ranil Wickremesinghe also step down along with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Air patrolling outside PM’s residence

Alarmed at the violent agitations by crowd, the security forces have begun aerial patrolling of the Prime Minister’s residence in Colombo.

Colombo | Few protestors come prepared to face the tear gas shelling by security forces deployed outside the residence of Sri Lankan PM

Air patrolling has started in the area around the PM’s residence pic.twitter.com/9anJ8gBfRc

— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2022

#WATCH | Sri Lanka: Air patrolling being conducted by security forces as protestors storm Sri Lankan PM’s residence in Colombo pic.twitter.com/HlOjmvFUNf

— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2022