Rajapaksa's coalition loses majority; newly appointed FM resigns in a day

Emergency health situation declared; ex-central banker Weerasinghe accepts offer to be new governor

At least 41 Sri Lankan lawmakers walked out of the ruling coalition on Tuesday, leaving the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a minority in parliament as it struggles with the country's worst economic crisis in decades.

In another setback for the administration, Finance Minister Ali Sabry resigned a day after his appointment and ahead of crucial talks scheduled with the International Monetary Fund for a loan programme.

The crisis spiralled today with the Rajapaksa government temporarily shutting down embassies in Australia, Norway and Iraq. 

Rajapaksa dissolved his cabinet on Monday and sought to form a unity government as public unrest surged over