Sri Lankan security officials were ordered Wednesday to use live ammunition against protesters to prevent “lawlessness” amid anti-government protests and an Economic Crisis in the island nation. Sri Lanka, facing its worst economic crisis since the country declared independence from Britain. in 1948, it has been violently “shaken” amid supply shortages, a currency devaluation, and massive government resignations. Both the police and the Armed Forces confirmed that they had been ordered to use “live ammunition” against those involved in acts of violence or vandalism against public property. Police said nine people have been killed since Monday and more than 200 injured in clashes in the city. of Colombo, where the armed forces have been trying to maintain order. The most recent episode of protests was in response to the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the nation’s prime minister, on Monday. Rajapaksa had to be evacuated from his house on Tuesday when protesters tried to storm the building. After defaulting on Sri Lanka’s $51 billion foreign debt, central bank governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said: a month ago. I thought we could apply the brakes, but with the events of Monday, the brakes are no longer working. He urged the nation to appoint a new government, warning that if they don’t, “the economy will completely collapse and no one will be able to save it.”