Former Australia batsman Stuart Law was on Wednesday named Sri Lanka's interim head coach in place of Trevor Bayliss, who stepped down after the cricket World Cup in the sub-continent.

Law has been working as Sri Lanka's assistant coach under Bayliss since October 2009.

- 'We were gutted after World Cup loss'

"Law will replace Trevor Bayliss who announced his intention to leave the Sri Lanka job after the World Cup," Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said.

Law has played one Test and 54 ODIs for Australia.

Sri Lanka Cricket, the governing body of the game in the country, has been hit hard by a series of resignations since the loss to India in the World Cup final last week.

Kumar Sangakkara resigned from the ODI and Twenty20 captaincy and Mahela Jayawardene from vice-captaincy.

The national selection panel, headed by former batsman Aravinda de Silva, also put in their papers.