The Acting President of Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency amid ongoing protests just days after the nation's former leader was forced to flee.
A government notice on Monday revealed former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had made the emergency declaration.
"It is expedient, so to do, 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 notification stated.
Mr Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the country's interim president until parliament elected a successor to Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Mr Rajapaksa resigned after mass protests over Sri Lanka's economic collapse forced him from office.
But Mr Wickremesinghe is also disliked by protesters, which had caused fear of further turmoil if he was officially elected president this week.
Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana promised a swift and transparent political process that should be done within a week.
The new president could appoint a new prime minister, who would then have to be approved by parliament.
Pope Francis has also called for a "peaceful solution" to the situation, during an address in Canada this week.
"I join the religious leaders in imploring all to refrain from all forms of violence and to start a process of dialogue for the common good," he said.
"I pray that all the international players will really get involved in restarting negotiations and not in fuelling the senselessness of war."
Since Mr Rajapaksa was forced out, days-long fuel queues have become the norm in Sri Lanka.
The country received the first shipment of fuel in almost a month, with the first of three fuel dispatches arriving on July 16.
The second, a diesel consignment, was expected the same day, with more petrol expected on July 19.
Long lines continued outside petrol stations in Colombo on Sunday, with frequent arguments breaking out amongst those waiting in the serpentine queues.
Speaking to The Associated Press, auto rickshaw driver Rohan Madhuranga complained he had sometimes had to wait for up to four days to fill up.
Mr Madhuranga added spending his pay on fuel also meant he couldn't give money to his family.
Sri Lanka has run short of money to pay for imports of basic necessities such as food, fertiliser and fuel, to the despair of its 22 million people.
Before the crisis, the economy had been expanding with a growing, comfortable middle class.
AP/ABC/Reuters
