Colombo: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga today (Nov 5) declared a state of emergency in the country giving the military sweeping powers in the island nation, her office said.

Kumaratunga used her executive powers to impose the emergency, which gives sweeping authority to security forces to arrest, and detain suspects, it said.

The extra ordinary laws would be in force for a period of 10 days, the maximum period allowed without Parliamentary approval, officials said.

Any continuation of the extraordinary laws would require Parliament to be resummoned to ratify her decision, officials said adding that a longer period would mean the automatic reconvening of the assembly.

PTI