Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has delivered a televised address ordering the military to “do whatever is necessary to restore order” after thousands of protesters stormed his office on Wednesday.
Mr Wickremesinghe told protesters to leave his office and other state buildings and co-operate with authorities.
“We can't tear up our constitution,” he said. “We can't allow fascists to take over. We must end this fascist threat to democracy.”
Mr Wickremesinghe's speech came on the day he was named acting president, hours after incumbent Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the bankrupt country in an air force jet.
Witnesses said protesters who stormed Mr Wickremesinghe's office had breached military defences. It was unclear on Wednesday evening whether security forces would use live ammunition on protesters, as has been the case since May when the army were given orders to use any means necessary to stop rioting. Almost 30 protesters were shot in a single incident on April 22 — one fatally — the first of several shootings since protests began.
The UN has warned Sri Lankan authorities to refrain from deadly force, while the police say they have tried to use water canons and tear gas to protect property.
But on Wednesday evening, Sri Lanka's defence chief, General Shavendra Silva, said the armed forces and police would respect the constitution, and called for calm.
“We have requested political leaders to decide the way forward till a new president is sworn in and notify us and the public by this evening,” he said.
People stood on chairs and desks waving Sri Lankan flags, chanting “that's what we said, don’t mess with us”, the BBC reported from inside Mr Wickremesinghe's office.
Police and troops had failed to hold back crowds despite firing tear gas and water cannon, AFP reported.
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Security personnel stand guard after a raid on an anti-government protest camp in Colombo early on Friday, amid Sri Lanka's economic crisis. Reuters -
Anti-government protesters speak with members of Sri Lankan security forces. AFP -
A policeman walks past slogans against the newly elected Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe in Colombo. AFP -
Ranil Wickremesinghe is sworn in as the new president of Sri Lanka by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. Reuters -
Mr Wickremesinghe, centre, arrives at his swearing-in ceremony in Colombo. EPA -
Ranil Wickremesinghe leaves a Buddhist temple in Colombo after he was named as Sri Lanka's eighth executive president. Reuters -
Sri Lankans protest after Mr Wickremesinghe defeated Dullas Alahapperuma, a member of the breakaway faction of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party, by 134 votes to 82 in a parliamentary vote to pick the next president. Getty -
Dinesh Gunawardena, centre, leader of the House of Parliament, arrives at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. Getty -
Soldiers stand guard at the Presidential Secretariat after Mr Wickremesinghe was announced as Sri Lanka's new president. Getty -
Protesters watch a live broadcast of the parliamentary vote to pick Sri Lanka's new president. EPA -
A screen grab of Mr Wickremesinghe, bottom left, during the vote count announcement in Sri Lanka's Parliament. AFP -
Mr Alahapperuma, bottom right, during the parliamentary vote in Colombo. AFP -
A supporter celebrates in Colombo after Mr Wickremesinghe was elected as president. Reuters -
Mr Wickremesinghe's supporters celebrate in the capital after his election as Sri Lankan president. Getty -
Sri Lankans protest after the announcement of Mr Wickremesinghe as president. Getty -
Demonstrators watch a public screen as voting begins in Sri Lanka's Parliament. Reuters -
Protesters in Colombo demand Mr Wickremesinghe's resignation as prime minister and acting president before the parliamentary vote. AP -
Demonstrators carry an effigy of Mr Wickremesinghe. AFP -
Demonstrators take part in a procession against Mr Wickremesinghe. AFP -
Demonstrators shout slogans. AFP -
Sri Lankan demonstrators take part in a celebration in Colombo to mark the 100th day of protests. AFP -
After months of street protests, Sri Lanka’s parliament will elect a new president to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday. AFP -
The country faces its worst economic crisis in decades due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages of food, fuel, medicines and imported goods. Getty -
Soldiers lower the national flag at Galle Face Green in Colombo. Getty -
A demonstrator writes a slogan against acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe. AFP -
Mr Wickremesinghe is a top contender in the race to succeed Mr Rajapaksa. AFP -
People light candles in the capital in memory of protesters killed or wounded since the demonstrations began. EPA -
Police officers stand guard outside Parliament in Colombo. Reuters -
The vandalised office of the Sri Lankan president inside his official residence in the capital. Getty -
Police officials gather evidence at the president’s official residence after it was overrun by anti-government protesters on July 9. AFP -
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, right, is sworn in as acting president by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya in Colombo. EPA -
Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena addresses the media in Colombo. AFP -
People dance in Colombo as they celebrate the resignation of Mr Rajapaksa amid the country’s economic crisis. Reuters -
Demonstrators cheer after hearing news that Mr Rajapaksa had emailed his letter of resignation after fleeing months of anti-government protests. Bloomberg -
Members of the media wait outside the VIP complex of Changi International Airport in Singapore for the arrival of Mr Rajapaksa, his wife and two bodyguards. Sri Lanka's president left the Maldives on July 14 aboard a Saudia Airlines plane bound for Singapore. AFP -
A Saudia Airlines plane believed to be carrying Mr Rajapaksa arrives on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore. EPA -
Police officers walk outside Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, a day after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the building, when he was named acting president. AFP -
A Saudia airline Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Singapore and carrying Sri Lanka's fleeing president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife and bodyguards prepares to take off at the Velana International airport, in the Maldives. AFP -
Sri Lankan soldiers stand guard near the parliament building in Colombo, a day after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the prime minister's office. AFP -
A soldier walks past a demonstrator sitting in a meeting room, at the prime minister's offices. AFP -
Soldiers patrol the buildings of the prime minister's office. AFP -
Troops make their way to an anti-government protest at the prime minister's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Bloomberg -
Demonstrators takes pictures inside the complex housing the Sri Lankan prime minister's offices. AFP -
An injured protester lies in an ambulance after clashes with police near parliament in Colombo. AP -
People wait to enter the presidential palace in Colombo, Sri Lanka. AP -
Protesters in Colombo hold Sri Lankan flags as they stand on top of the office of acting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, amid the country's economic crisis. Reuters -
Protesters demand the resignation of Mr Wickremasinghe. Bloomberg -
Police officers stand guard in Colombo. Reuters -
Police fire tear gas to control the crowds. Reuters -
A protester pours water on a man as tensions soar. Reuters -
Protesters throw teargas shells. AP Photo -
Protesters storm Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka and demand his resignation, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the economic and political crisis for the Maldives. AP -
Police use tear gas to disperse Sri Lankan protesters outside the prime minister's office. AP -
A protester sleeps on vandalised furniture inside the presidential palace in Colombo, which has been occupied by demonstrators for days. Getty Images -
A satellite image shows people gathered outside Sri Lanka's Parliament building in Colombo amid the country's economic and political crisis. AFP -
Youths play carrom inside the Sri Lankan prime minister's official residence, which was stormed by protesters at the weekend. Reuters -
People sit on a couch inside the prime minister's official residence. The protests against the government have simmered since May, but erupted again last Saturday. Reuters -
Army cadets march past people queuing to get inside Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. AFP -
People visit Mr Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. It was reported on Wednesday that he had fled the country for the Maldives. AFP -
A man takes a selfie at the presidential palace. AP -
Sri Lankans line up to take a look inside the presidential palace in Colombo. EPA -
Crowds flock to take in the presidential palace. EPA -
A man takes a rest inside the prime minister's official residence in Colombo. EPA -
People sing songs inside the prime minister's official residence. EPA -
Protesters erect a banner on the presidential palace three days after it was stormed by anti-government demonstrators in Colombo. AP -
People wait in a queue to collect gas at a distribution point in Colombo. AFP -
Sri Lankans quarrel as they wait for gas at a distribution point. AFP -
A driver of an autorickshaw sleeps inside his vehicle while waiting in a queue to buy petrol at a fuel station in Colombo. AP
Sri Lanka’s state broadcaster Rupavahini went off air after being seized by protesters in Colombo, Bloomberg reported.
At about 1.02pm local time, shortly after the protester-imposed deadline lapsed for Mr Rajapaksa to submit his resignation, Rupavahini showed images of one of its presenters introducing two protesters.
Shortly afterwards, the channel played the national anthem and went off air.
“We have not cast a stone at Rupavahini,” one protester said.
“We only ask that you join the people in our struggle rather than taking the side of the government in power. We thank the staff of Rupavahini for assisting us.”
Protesters captured the broadcaster after an announcement that Mr Wickremesinghe, who is also being asked to resign, will be acting president after Mr Rajapaksa fled.
Some local media reports cited unnamed Rupavahini officials as saying engineers shut down the broadcast after protesters stormed the building.
Sri Lanka's Information Ministry has not responded to requests for comment, Bloomberg reported.
Protests were widespread in Colombo on Wednesday. Tear gas was fired and barricades were set up in parts of the capital.
The country’s economy has been wrecked by a combination of mismanagement, a slump in tourism due to the pandemic and a surge in import costs related to the war in Ukraine.
