Underwears are placed by protestors on a temporary metal barrier made to block protesters at the main entrance to the parliament during the trade unions' nationwide Harthal, a peaceful protest, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his cabinet and blaming them for creating the country's worst economic crisis in decades, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 6, 2022. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency on Friday following a day of anti-government strikes and protests over a worsening economic crisis.
The measure, which drew immediate criticism from opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and from Canada's ambassador, is effective immediately and was taken in the interests of public security, a government notice said.
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