Sri Lanka president declares public emergency after protests against economic crisis

Declaration comes after hundreds of protesters clashed with police and the military

Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a nationwide public emergency, following violent protests over the country's worst economic crisis in decades.

Rajapaksa said in a government gazette notification late on Friday that he took the decision in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and essential services.