Sri Lankan leader appeals for patience amid economic crisis

Sri Lanka’s president appealed for patience amid the country's worst economic crisis but promised brighter times ahead.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a policy speech after inaugurating a new parliamentary session that he had been forced to make unpopular decisions to salvage the country's finances, including by implementing measures such as higher taxes. 

The country is facing its worst economic crisis and has announced it is suspending repayment of its foreign debt.  A currency crisis has also led to shortages of essential items like food, fuel, medicine and cooking gas.