Rajapaksa asks for intl support amid financial woes

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa pleaded on Thursday for international assistance to help with his country's worst economic crisis in memory.

Residents there have been enduring shortages of food and fuel, power outages and other privations.

Speaking virtually at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Rajapaksa said immediate help was needed to import essential medicines, food and fuel.

Currently, the country lacks the financial wherewithal to buy imported necessities and pay its debts.

The crisis has fuelled political turmoil, with protesters demanding Rajapaksa's resignation.