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Sri Lanka's economy was once seen as the model for a developing country.
斯里兰卡经济曾被视为发展中国家的典范。
Now it is edging toward bankruptcy.
而现在，它正濒临破产。
What happened?
发生了什么事？
The crisis unfolded quickly a compounding effect of global and national factors.
这场危机迅速展开，是全球和国家因素综合影响的结果。
In 2019 the tropical country's key tourism industry began to falter after terrorist attacks, including the Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people.
2019年，这个热带国家的关键旅游业在发生恐怖袭击后开始步履蹒跚，其中包括导致250多人丧生的复活节自杀式爆炸袭击。
Tourism fell further during the coronavirus pandemic.
在新冠疫情期间，旅游业进一步衰退。
Economists say years of government mismanagement and corruption added to the country's budget woes.
经济学家称，政府多年来的管理不善和腐败加剧了该国的预算困境。
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who recently fled the country spent large sums on infrastructure projects while also passing the largest tax cuts in the country's history in 2019.
最近逃离该国的前总统戈塔巴雅·拉贾帕克萨在基础设施建设上投入了大量资金，并在2019年通过了该国历史上最大规模的减税法案。
His administration also unexpectedly banned imports of chemical fertilizers in a push for organic farming but did not give farmers help in sourcing natural alternatives.
他的政府还出人意料地禁止化肥进口，以推动有机农业，但并没有帮助农民寻找天然替代品。
As a result, rice yields plummeted and the price of the staple crop rose.
最终，大米产量暴跌，主要农作物价格上涨。
Soon the government was running out of money and began using up its foreign reserves.
很快，政府的资金濒临耗尽，并开始耗光其外汇储备。
Creditors downgraded Sri Lanka's ratings beginning in 2020, eventually locking the country out of international financial markets.
信评机构从2020年开始下调斯里兰卡的评级，最终将该国排除在国际金融市场之外。
The country's currency collapsed; inflation soared; and the government defaulted on its foreign debt.
该国货币暴跌，通货膨胀飙升，政府拖欠外债。
What does it mean for ordinary people?
这对普通人而言意味着什么？
In a country that normally has plenty of food people are going hungry.
在一个通常有充足食物的国家，人们正在挨饿。
The UN World Food Program says nearly nine out of ten families are cutting back on the amount of food they eat.
联合国世界粮食计划署表示，该国近九成的家庭正在减少食量。
The government has given civil servants an extra day off so they can grow their own food.
政府给了公务员额外的一天假期，让他们自己种粮食。
Fuel stations have run out of gas and electricity blackouts are common.
加油站的汽油已经用完，停电也成了日常。
People line up for hours for basic items like cooking gas and fuel.
人们要排几个小时的队购买煤气和燃料等基本物品。
Even if they could find such staples, inflation is rising so fast that many people cannot afford them.
但即使他们能找到这些基本产品，通胀上升得如此之快，许多人也负担不起。
Doctors say they are nearly out of medicines and are warning people to avoid getting sick.
医生说，他们的药物即将用完，并提醒民众避免生病。
What's next?
下一步是什么？
The country of 22 million people is looking to other nations for help.
这个拥有2200万人口的国家正在向其他国家寻求帮助。
India has provided Sri Lanka with billions of dollars in loans, while China says it supports efforts to restructure its debts.
印度向斯里兰卡提供了数十亿美元的贷款，中国表示支持斯里兰卡债务重组。
The International Monetary Fund is working with the government on a bailout plan.
国际货币基金组织正在与斯里兰卡政府合作制定一项救助计划。
And the United Nations began a worldwide public appeal for assistance.
联合国开始在全球范围内公开呼吁援助。
However, economists say Sri Lanka's history of political corruption could complicate any financial rescue package.
然而，经济学家称，斯里兰卡的政治腐败历史可能会导致任何财政救援计划变得复杂。
And the country's political upheaval over the economic crisis is adding uncertainty to the process.
而该国经济危机引发的政治动荡也增加了这一进程的不确定性。
While the government has reversed some of the policies that helped lead to the economic crisis, including tax cuts and the import ban on chemical fertilizers, economists say it will take time for the effects to be felt.
虽然政府已经取消了导致经济危机的一些政策，包括减税和禁止化肥进口，但经济学家表示，其效果还需要时间才能显现。
