Sri Lanka PM Wickremesinghe sworn in as acting president

Colombo: In Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as acting president. 

He replaces Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled to Singapore after unprecedented mass protests which saw demonstrators overrun the presidential palace.

The process of parliament electing a new president begins today.

Later, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister and Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered the military to take all possible action for the restoration of law and order in the island.

In a television address, Ranil Wickremesinghe called on protesters to leave his occupied office and other state buildings.