Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees the country on military jet

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled Sri Lanka on a military jet, amid mass protests over the island's economic crisis.

The country's air force confirmed the 73-year-old flew to the Maldives with his wife and two security officials.

In his absence, he has appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president.

Mr Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency and regional curfew in the western province.

Mr Rajapaksa's departure ends a family dynasty that has dominated Sri Lanka's politics for the past two decades.