The turmoil was caused by severe shortages of some foods, fuel, cooking gas and medicine, after Sri Lanka went bankrupt because it could not repay its foreign debt.

Sri Lanka is accusing Ottawa of caving to Tamil diaspora politics in sanctioning two former presidents and two military officers and said the decision "sets a dangerous precedent."

The federal government is warning Canadians in Sri Lanka to limit their movements and avoid affected areas after a series of bomb blasts killed at least 207 people and injured hundreds more.