New Delhi: Sri Lanka which has been under financial crisis for months has now declared a state of emergency. This comes after Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country to the Maldives early Wednesday, reported news agency PTI.
The Sri Lanka Prime Minister's office said, "Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after president flees", reported the news agency AFP.
The 73-year-old leader left the country along with his wife and two security officers on a military jet, a brief statement from the Sri Lanka Air Force said.
"On government request and in terms of powers available to a President under the Constitution, with complete approval from the ministry of defence, the President, his wife and two security officials were provided a Sri Lanka Air Force plane to depart from the Katunayake international airport for the Maldives in the early hours of July 13," the statement said, according to a PTI report.
He fled the country hours before he was supposed to step down in the face of a public revolt against him and his family for mishandling the economy that has bankrupted the country.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe took over as the caretaker President till a new President is elected by Parliament on July 20 after nominations for the post on July 19.
Notably, Wickremesinghe is also unpopular and was forced to step down from his post amid the ongoing protests. He said he would resign for the safety of all the citizens and make way for a unity government.