Sri Lanka is grinding to a halt due to shortages of essential goods like petrol and medicine, leaving the country vulnerable.

Rampant inflation in the nation’s currency and a shortage of foreign currency have left it unable to pay for critical imported goods such as fuel.

The economic crisis is the country’s worst in seven decades and has led to widespread protests.

Sri Lankan police have introduced curfews in an attempt to combat protests – a move that is being condemned by human rights groups.