Sri Lanka fell into default for the first time in its history as the government struggles to halt an economic meltdown that prompted mass protests and a political crisis.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) protesters near the World Trade Centre at the Galle Face Green.

Some parliamentarians requested from the Speaker to make arrangements for them to stay at a hotel during the parliamentary week unless arrangements were made for them to obtain fuel to attend Parliament sessions, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene said today (May 19).

Price of a loaf of 450g bread will be increased by Rs.30 with effect from midnight today (May 19), the Association of Bakery Owners.

Sri Lankan authorities have decided to suspend the issuing of fuel from the filling station of Narahenpita Police Transport Division to vehicles of parliamentarians following public outcry.

Prima Ceylon (Pvt) Limited has increased the price of wheat flour by Rs. 40 per kilogram.

Sri lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that non-essential public sector employees should not report for duty tomorrow (May 20) to mitigate the fuel crisis.

Jagath Samarawickrama was sworn in as a Member of Parliament today (May 19) before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Sri Lankans, whose real incomes are getting hammered on a daily basis from soaring inflation, have turned to their credit cards, as there was a significant jump in the outstanding balance of credit cards in March from a month ago, when the financial and economic misery became more pronounced.

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at the current levels of 13.50 percent and 14.50 percent, respectively.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recorded statements from MPs Rohitha Abeygunawardena, C.B. Ratnayake and Sanjeewa Edirimanne regarding the incidents that took place outside Temple Trees (Maina Go Gama) and in Galle Face (Gota Go Gama) on May 09.

The Office of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister to slash its expenses by 50 percent under the directive issued by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held discussions with the legal draftsman, Attorney General and MPs Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Susil Premajayantha last afternoon where the 21st Amendment was discussed and it was finalised to present it before cabinet next week.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his message for the 13th anniversary of National War Heroes Day, says various local, and foreign groups and individuals are attempting to use the economic and political crisis as a pretext to influence national security.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarians Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayatilleke were ordered to be remanded till May 25 by Colombo Fort Magistrate over the 09th of May incidents.

Running out of petrol, medicines and foreign reserves, once-booming Sri Lanka is in a mess. And the measures needed to pull its economy out of the unparalleled crisis are likely to bring even more pain.