Police block anti-government marchers in Sri Lanka

STORY: The anti-government protest, jointly organised by opposition political parties, trade unions and civil society groups, was blocked by police as marchers attempted to reach a central part of the city where the president's house and other ministries are located.

Sri Lanka has been gripped by a deep financial crisis this year. Record-low foreign exchange reserves have left the island of 22 million people struggling to pay for essential imports including fuel, food, cooking gas and medicine.