COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday issued declared a public emergency in the nation giving sweeping powers to security forces.

The Gazette is issued after considering the prevailing situation in the country and 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, the President said.

Sri Lanka has also imposed a police curfew in Western Province for six hours.

Several protestors gathered outside the residence of the Sri Lankan President on Thursday as the nation faces an unprecedented economic crisis.

The protest was staged over the government's failure to address the existing issues in Sri Lanka. The protesters clashed with the police outside the residence of President Rajapaksa in Mirihana.

After the protest, at least ten people were injured, which includes journalists.

Sri Lanka's economy has been in a free fall since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the crash of the tourism sector.

Sri Lanka is presently facing a foreign reserve shortage which has led to a food, fuel, power and gas shortage and has sought the assistance of friendly countries for economic assistance.

Sri Lanka is witnessing at least 12-hour daily power cuts which further instigated riots.