Sri Lanka extends state of emergency as police round up protest leaders

Parliament ratifies powers that allow the military to detain people, limit public gatherings and search private property

Two activists who helped lead mass demonstrations that toppled Sri Lanka's president have been arrested, police said, as parliament extended tough emergency laws imposed to restore order.

Then acting-president Ranil Wickremesinghe had declared a state of emergency on 17 July. It allows for the military to be given powers to detain people, limit public gatherings and search private property. The emergency ordinance would have lapsed on Wednesday if it had not been ratified by parliament.