President declares state of emergency in Sri Lanka

A state of emergency will be declared by the President with effect from midnight yesterday (May 06), the President’s Media Division said.

The president invoked the tough laws after trade unions staged a nationwide strike Friday demanding his resignation over a worsening economic crisis.

On the 01st of April, a special gazette notification was issued declaring a public emergency in Sri Lanka with immediate effect, and the move was said to be 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 as it is expedient, the gazette read.

However, the President later revoked the proclamation pertaining to the declaration of public emergency in Sri Lanka with effect from midnight on April 05.