Sri Lanka's acting president declares state of emergency

Ranil Wickremesinghe's order comes as Parliament prepares to elect successor to head of state forced out of office last week by protesters

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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

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  Anti-government protesters speak with members of Sri Lankan security forces. AFP

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  A policeman walks past slogans against the newly elected Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe in Colombo. AFP

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  Ranil Wickremesinghe is sworn in as the new president of Sri Lanka by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. Reuters

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  Mr Wickremesinghe, centre, arrives at his swearing-in ceremony in Colombo. EPA

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  Ranil Wickremesinghe leaves a Buddhist temple in Colombo after he was named as Sri Lanka's eighth executive president. Reuters

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  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

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  Dinesh Gunawardena, centre, leader of the House of Parliament, arrives at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. Getty

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  Soldiers stand guard at the Presidential Secretariat after Mr Wickremesinghe was announced as Sri Lanka's new president. Getty

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  Protesters watch a live broadcast of the parliamentary vote to pick Sri Lanka's new president. EPA

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  A screen grab of Mr Wickremesinghe, bottom left, during the vote count announcement in Sri Lanka's Parliament. AFP

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  Mr Alahapperuma, bottom right, during the parliamentary vote in Colombo. AFP

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  A supporter celebrates in Colombo after Mr Wickremesinghe was elected as president. Reuters

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  Mr Wickremesinghe's supporters celebrate in the capital after his election as Sri Lankan president. Getty

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  Sri Lankans protest after the announcement of Mr Wickremesinghe as president. Getty

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  Demonstrators watch a public screen as voting begins in Sri Lanka's Parliament. Reuters

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  Protesters in Colombo demand Mr Wickremesinghe's resignation as prime minister and acting president before the parliamentary vote. AP

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  Demonstrators carry an effigy of Mr Wickremesinghe. AFP

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  Demonstrators take part in a procession against Mr Wickremesinghe. AFP

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  Demonstrators shout slogans. AFP

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  Sri Lankan demonstrators take part in a celebration in Colombo to mark the 100th day of protests. AFP

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  After months of street protests, Sri Lanka’s parliament will elect a new president to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday. AFP

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  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

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  Soldiers lower the national flag at Galle Face Green in Colombo. Getty

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  A demonstrator writes a slogan against acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe. AFP

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  Mr Wickremesinghe is a top contender in the race to succeed Mr Rajapaksa. AFP

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  People light candles in the capital in memory of protesters killed or wounded since the demonstrations began. EPA

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  Police officers stand guard outside Parliament in Colombo. Reuters

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  The vandalised office of the Sri Lankan president inside his official residence in the capital. Getty

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  Police officials gather evidence at the president’s official residence after it was overrun by anti-government protesters on July 9. AFP

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  Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, right, is sworn in as acting president by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya in Colombo. EPA

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  Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena addresses the media in Colombo. AFP

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  People dance in Colombo as they celebrate the resignation of Mr Rajapaksa amid the country’s economic crisis. Reuters

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  Demonstrators cheer after hearing news that Mr Rajapaksa had emailed his letter of resignation after fleeing months of anti-government protests. Bloomberg

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  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

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  A Saudia Airlines plane believed to be carrying Mr Rajapaksa arrives on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore. EPA

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  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

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  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

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  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

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  A soldier walks past a demonstrator sitting in a meeting room, at the prime minister's offices. AFP

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  Soldiers patrol the buildings of the prime minister's office. AFP

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  Troops make their way to an anti-government protest at the prime minister's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Bloomberg

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  Demonstrators takes pictures inside the complex housing the Sri Lankan prime minister's offices. AFP

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  An injured protester lies in an ambulance after clashes with police near parliament in Colombo. AP

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  People wait to enter the presidential palace in Colombo, Sri Lanka. AP

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  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

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  Protesters demand the resignation of Mr Wickremasinghe. Bloomberg

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  Police officers stand guard in Colombo. Reuters

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  Police fire tear gas to control the crowds. Reuters

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  A protester pours water on a man as tensions soar. Reuters

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  Protesters throw teargas shells. AP Photo

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  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

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  Police use tear gas to disperse Sri Lankan protesters outside the prime minister's office. AP

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  A protester sleeps on vandalised furniture inside the presidential palace in Colombo, which has been occupied by demonstrators for days. Getty Images

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  A satellite image shows people gathered outside Sri Lanka's Parliament building in Colombo amid the country's economic and political crisis. AFP

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  Youths play carrom inside the Sri Lankan prime minister's official residence, which was stormed by protesters at the weekend. Reuters

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  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

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  Army cadets march past people queuing to get inside Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. AFP

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  People visit Mr Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. It was reported on Wednesday that he had fled the country for the Maldives. AFP

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  A man takes a selfie at the presidential palace. AP

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  Sri Lankans line up to take a look inside the presidential palace in Colombo. EPA

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  Crowds flock to take in the presidential palace. EPA

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  A man takes a rest inside the prime minister's official residence in Colombo. EPA

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  People sing songs inside the prime minister's official residence. EPA

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  Protesters erect a banner on the presidential palace three days after it was stormed by anti-government demonstrators in Colombo. AP

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  People wait in a queue to collect gas at a distribution point in Colombo. AFP

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  Sri Lankans quarrel as they wait for gas at a distribution point. AFP

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  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 acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency, as the country faces further protests over a months-long economic crisis that has caused acute shortages and surging prices.

“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,” a government notice released on Sunday said.

Under the emergency regulations, Mr Wickremesinghe can authorise detentions, take possession of any property and search any premises. He can also change or suspend any law.

Mr Wickremesinghe is a leading contender to assume the presidency after protesters last week forced former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee abroad, from where he submitted his resignation.

Parliament will receive nominations for the post on Tuesday, and will hold a vote on Wednesday.

Sajith Premadasa, leader of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya alliance, is another leading candidate, along with Dullas Alahapperuma, a senior ruling party MP who served as minister of mass media and a Cabinet spokesman.

Mr Rajapaksa's resignation was accepted by Parliament on Friday.

He flew to the Maldives and then to Singapore after hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Colombo a week ago, before storming his official residence and office.

His brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned as prime minister in May, leading to Mr Wickremesinghe being asked to form a new government for his sixth term as the country's prime minister.

Protesters have said they will not accept Mr Wickremesinghe — an ally of the Rajapaksas — as president, raising the prospect of further unrest should he be elected.

Demonstrators accuse Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his powerful political family of siphoning money from government coffers and of hastening the country’s collapse by mismanaging the economy.

The family has denied the corruption allegations, but Gotabaya Rajapaksa acknowledged that some of his policies contributed to Sri Lanka’s meltdown.

Sri Lanka has run short of money to pay for imports of basic necessities such as food, fertiliser, medicine and fuel for its 22 million people.

It is seeking help from the International Monetary Fund and other creditors, but top officials say its finances are so poor that even obtaining a bailout has proven difficult.

The main protests have occurred in the capital, Colombo, where protesters occupied the front of the president’s office for more than 100 days.