The president of SriLanka fled to theMaldives on a military jet after mass protests over his country's economic crisis caused shortages of food and fuel.
The president flew with his wife and two security personnel, according to the air force. The immigration official told The Wall Street Journal that it was a military plane.
Over the weekend, the president promised to step down as thousands of people protested. The protesters were in the water.
Immigration officers blocked him from leaving the country at the airport on Tuesday.
The speaker of Sri Lanka's parliament appointed the country's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, as acting president because of a clause in the country's constitution that allows it, according to a report.
Hundreds of people surrounded the prime minister's office and demanded his resignation.
The country of 22 million people is "bankrupt" on Tuesday.
The price of basic items has doubled in Sri Lanka, and people have had to wait for days for fuel.
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