Sri Lankan president declares state of emergency

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in the country.

Also see: Crisis in Sri Lanka as president suspends parliament
 
This follows the sacking of three ministers and the suspension of parliament by Kumaratunga on Tuesday.

The president used her executive powers to impose the state of emergency which gives sweeping authority to the
security forces to arrest and detain suspects.