In Sri Lanka, protesters stormed the prime minister's office demanding his resignation.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who became acting president, then made a TV address in which he said he had ordered the military to "do whatever is necessary to restore order."

He urged the protesters who had occupied his office and other government buildings to leave and cooperate with the authorities.

"We cannot tear up our constitution. We cannot allow fascists to seize power. We must put an end to this fascist threat to democracy," he added.

As previously reported, protests in Sri Lanka resumed with renewed vigor after it was revealed that President Rajapaksa had fled the country to the Maldives.