Sri Lanka protesters defy curfew after social media ban

State of emergency imposed on Friday with country facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials

Armed troops in Sri Lanka confronted crowds protesting against a worsening economic crisis, after a social media blackout failed to halt another day of anti-government demonstrations.

The south Asian nation is facing severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials - along with record inflation and crippling power cuts - in its most painful economic downturn since independence from Britain in 1948.