Protests are intensifying in Colombo, Sri Lanka over severe shortages of basic goods. Protesters have held demonstrations for more than a month, undeterred by a five-day state of emergency and a two-day curfew last week. Sri Lanka's central bank doubled key interest rates on Friday to tame the country's soaring inflation. The country is also facing government-imposed power cuts lasting 13 hours. Sri Lanka is struggling to pay for essential imports, after a 70-percent drop in foreign exchange reserves prompted a devaluation of its currency. Trading in equities stopped after the country's benchmark stock exchange fell ten percent.