Sri Lanka’s President Defies Calls to Resign as Crisis Deepens
- Emergency order revoked as Rajapaksa coalition in minority
- Finance Minister resigned Tuesday within a day of appointment
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Supporters of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he will not resign under any circumstance after his government was left with a minority in parliament, making it tougher to resolve an economic crisis that has brought people to the streets.
Rajapaksa is struggling to assemble a team to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund after his finance minister resigned within 24 hours of being sworn in. The former military officer repealed a five-day-old emergency order late Tuesday as crowds of protesters defied the proclamation that had given him sweeping powers to detain people and seize property.