Colombo, Jul 13 (IANS): Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Wednesday appointed as the acting President of Sri Lanka after Gotbaya Rajpaksa fled to Maldives.
As per reports, President Rajapaksa informed this to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
Soon after taking charge, Wickremesinghe imposed curfew in the Western province where the capital Colombo is and declared emergency regulations island wide.
Protesters have surrounded prime minister's office and tense situation prevails with police resorting to tear gas and firing in the air. Protesters who have occupied President's house, his office and PM's official residence have called the public to gather to Colombo despite the emergency and the curfew.
He has also ordered the security to arrest people acting riotous manner and blocked vehicles coming to Colombo. National Television station has stopped transmission.