Photo taken on April 1, 2022 shows the exterior view of a shopping center during the power cut in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka declared an islandwide curfew from 6 pm Saturday to 6 a.m. Monday as the country faced a severe power crisis and rising inflation.Photo:Xinhua

Sri Lanka declared an islandwide curfew from 6 pm Saturday to 6 am Monday as the country faced a severe power crisis and rising inflation.

On Friday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued the Extraordinary Gazette declaring a state of public emergency in Sri Lanka with immediate effect.

Rajapaksa said the emergency was declared in the interests of public security, protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.

A protest has been planned via social media for Sunday.

Local people wait on the platform at a railway station in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 31, 2022. Sri Lanka declared an islandwide curfew from 6 pm Saturday to 6 a.m. Monday as the country faced a severe power crisis and rising inflation.Photo:Xinhua