State of emergency declared in Sri Lanka ahead of July 20 presidential election

The government gazette dated July 17 imposing a state of emergency in the troubled nation was issued on Monday morning

Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has already said he was willing to resign and make way for an all-party government to take over

China has extended a $1.3 billion syndicated loan and a $1.5 billion-yuan denominated swap, while negotiations are ongoing for more loans

The finance ministry said creditors were free to capitalise any interest payments due to them from Tuesday afternoon

People have been protesting for weeks over lengthy power cuts and shortage of gas, food and other basic goods

US issued the warning pointing to the fuel and medicine shortages, as well as the COVID-19 and terror threats in the Island nation

The largest opposition political party rejected the president's proposal of a unity government and termed this spate of resignations a sham

Political experts said the ministers came under intense pressure from the public over the govt's alleged mishandling of the economic crisis

Anonymous activists had called for mass protests on Sunday on social media before the order went into effect

The move came after a violent protest erupted outside the residence of Rajapaksa on Thursday as hundreds of demonstrators gathered there