Sri Lanka facing imminent threat of starvation, senior politician warns

Speaker tells parliament there will be very acute food shortages' and economic crisis is just the beginning'

• Why are people protesting in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka is facing the imminent threat of starvation for its population of 22 million as the economic crisis in the country continues to worsen and food becomes increasingly scarce, a senior politician has warned.

Speaking in a debate in parliament, held against the backdrop of the worst financial crisis to hit the country since independence - and with anti-government protests spreading across the country - the speaker of the parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, warned that this was just the beginning".