In pics: President flees Lanka; protesters storm PM office

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as angry protesters stormed the prime minister's office in Colombo, hours after president Gotabaya Rajapksa fled to the Maldives on a military jet, amid the country's worst economic crisis in decades. Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had promised to resign on Wednesday, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the acting President hours after he fled the country, escalating the political crisis and triggering a fresh wave of protests.

Update: 2022-07-13 15:02 GMT

Demonstrators shout slogans and wave Sri Lankan flags during an anti-government protest inside the office building of Sri Lanka's PM

Police use teargas as Sri Lankan protesters storm the compound of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office

A protester, carrying national flag, stands with others on top of the building of Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office

Protesters react after storming the office in Colombo

Police use teargas as Sri Lankan protesters storm the compound

A man with liquor bottle inside the premises

Protesters arrive at the official residence

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