Sri Lanka's ongoing economic crisis has precipitated protests and violent clashes and has even led to the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

As people took to the streets to demand the resignation of the current regime, they clashed with pro-government protestors on May 9, in which eight were killed and as many as 200 were injured.

The following day, the government gave emergency powers to the police and military to detain people for up to 24 hours without a warrant and, thereafter, the island nation's defence ministry gave the go-ahead to the Army, Navy and Air Force to open fire on anyone "anyone looting public property or causing harm to others".

As India's southern neighbours grapples with this tumultuous situation, Arfa Khanum Sherwani provides a broader picture of all the developments so far.

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