The state of emergency has been declared in a proclamation by Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe in terms of Article 40(1)(C) of the Constitution, by virtue of the powers vested in him by Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act No. 8 of 1959, Law No. 6 of 1978 and Act No. 28 of 1988, reports Daily Mirror newspaper.

According to the gazette, the public emergency in Sri Lanka has been 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, the newspaper reported.

The country is currently facing its worst-ever economic and financial crisis.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe took over as the acting President of the nation, hours after  Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to Maldives amid protests against him in the country.