Cash-strapped Sri Lanka's central bank hiked interest rates by a record 700 basis points on Friday as police fired tear gas at hundreds of students protesting about the economic crisis.

Crisis-hit: Sri Lanka hikes rates by record as protests spiral

Sri Lanka's central bank cut its main lending rate Friday for the second time in three months hoping to lift the economy as its struggles in the wake of the devastating Easter attacks that hit the key tourism sector.

Sri Lanka cuts rates as economy struggles after Easter attacks

Sri Lanka's central bank cut its main lending rate Friday in a bid to revive the island's economy, which was battered by the Easter suicide bombings that killed 258 people.

Sri Lanka cuts rates to boost economy after Easter attacks

Activists had threatened to take to the streets unless the President replaced Arjuna Mahendran

Sri Lanka's controversial central bank chief goes