State of emergency declared across Sri Lanka

The Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency across Sri Lanka and a curfew has been imposed in the western province, a spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s office has said.

Protesters heading towards PM’s office

Thousands of protesters are making their way towards the Prime Minister’s office on Flower Road – about a 20 minute walk away from the main protest site of Galle Face Green.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had said he would step down once an all-party interim government is set up following Mr Rajapaksa’s departure.

But many Sri Lankans want him to leave immediately.

This is because once Mr Rajapaksa departs, under Sri Lanka’s constitution, Mr Wickremesinghe would automatically become acting president for 30 days.

“If we don’t hear of the resignation of the president and the prime minister by the evening, we may have to gather back and take over parliament or another government building,” protester Buddhi Prabodha Karunaratne had earlier told Reuters.

“We are strongly against the Gota-Ranil government. Both have to go.”

Police fire tear gas against protesters near PM’s office

Police have used tear gas to disperse a group of protesters near the Prime Minister’s Office at Flower Road.

Protests so far today around the capital had been largely peaceful, with demonstrators chanting and giving speeches.

BBC