ARMED police fired gunshots as a state of emergency was declared in Sri Lanka today hours after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa managed to flee to the Maldives. 

He appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to “cover the duties of his post” in his absence leading to increased anger on the streets of the capital Colombo. 

Protesters set fire to his private residence once again as thousands gathered to demand his immediate resignation. 

But the ruling party said that it was nominating him as their candidate for the presidency once Mr Rajapaksa resigns, which he was expected to do by the time the Star published this story. 

Mr Wickremesinghe told the military to “do whatever is necessary to restore order” after protesters stormed his office today. 

“We can’t tear up our constitution. We can’t allow fascists to take over. We must end this fascist threat to democracy,” he said.

But opposition leader Sajith Premadasa described the PM’s appointment as acting president as a “farce” and a “tragedy.”

An anti-government uprising has seen thousands throng the streets of the 22 million-populated island nation since last week with the country suffering months of lengthy blackouts, acute food and fuel shortages and soaring inflation.