Rajapaksa said the decision was taken in the interests of public security, the protection of public order, and to ensure the maintenance of supplies and essential services.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a nationwide public emergency following violent protests over the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
In a Sri Lankan government gazette notification late on Friday, Rajapaksa said the decision was taken in the interests of public security, the protection of public order, and to ensure the maintenance of supplies and essential services.
On Thursday hundreds of protesters clashed with the police and military outside President Rajapaksa's residence in a suburb of the capital, Colombo.
Police arrested 53 people and imposed a curfew in and around Colombo on Friday to contain sporadic protests that have broken out over shortages of essential items including fuel and other goods.
The island nation of 22 million people is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in years with rolling blackouts for up to 13 hours a day as the government scrambles to secure foreign exchange to pay for fuel imports.
Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds near the president's residence on Thursday after demonstrators torched several police and army vehicles.
One official said at least two dozen police personnel were injured in the clashes, but declined to comment on the number of protesters who were hurt.
Tourism minister Prasanna Ranatunge warned such protests would harm economic prospects.
"The main issue Sri Lanka is facing is a forex shortage and protests of this nature will hurt tourism and have economic consequences," Ranatunge said.
The UN representative in the country, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, called for restraint from all groups involved in the clashes.
"We are monitoring developments and are concerned by reports of violence," she said on Twitter.
Trading on the country's share market was suspended for a third day on Friday after the main index fell 10 per cent from the previous close.
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