Sri Lanka's economy on brink of collapse as troops quell unrestSri Lankan police have been ordered to go on the offensive and use live ammunition to stop rioting, a top official told AFP. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's economy will "collapse" unless a new government is urgently appointed, the central bank chief warned Wednesday, as security forces fanned out on the streets to restore order after spasms of mob violence. He said political stability was vital to implement the reforms needed to address Sri Lanka's snowballing debt crisis and the acute shortage of foreign exchange to import essentials. With armoured personnel carriers and a heavy security presence, Sri Lanka's military chief addressed a press conference to deny speculation of a looming coup. "Don't ever think that we are trying to capture power," said Kamal Gunaratne, the secretary of Sri Lanka's defence ministry.

Source: Bangkok Post May 11, 2022 23:06 UTC