Politics
2022.07.14 06:22 GMT+8

Sri Lanka's PM takes over after president flees

Updated 2022.07.14 06:22 GMT+8
CGTN

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Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken over the nation in crisis, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on a military plane on Wednesday.

Protesters surrounded the PM’s residence, clashing with police.

They are demanding an overhaul of the country's political leadership and blame the government for the ongoing economic crisis, the New York Times reports.

Protesters have been calling for the president and PM to step down but neither have officially done so.

Upon taking the presidency, Acting President Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency and a 24-hour curfew.

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