Sri Lanka Declares a State of Emergency

India’s neighbor, Sri Lanka is battling against its worst economic crisis ever. The inflation in the country has skyrocketed and there has been a shortage of essential commodities. Amid the chaos and spate of protests, the President of Sri Lanka- Gotabaya Rajapaksa has announced a nationwide public emergency. Recently, these protests turned violent and even reached the official residence of the President. On Friday, Rajapaksa issued a special gazette notification while declaring a public emergency in Sri Lanka, effective from April 1. In the gazettes issued, President stated: "Whereas I am of opinion that by reason of a public emergency in Sri Lanka it is expedient to do so in the interests of public security the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community". The countrywide protest has engulfed Sri Lanka against the government's poor handling of the ongoing economic crisis. Rajapaksa in his defense said that the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic driven where the island's tourism revenue declined drastically.