スリランカ、デフォルト

　ついにこの日が来たかという感。

BBC Sri Lanka defaults on debt for first time in its history 20 May 2022 By Peter Hoskins

「Sri Lanka has defaulted on its debt for the first time in its history as the country struggles with its worst financial crisis in more than 70 years.

It comes after a 30-day grace period to come up with $78m (£63m) of unpaid debt interest payments expired on Wednesday.

The governor of the South Asian nation's central bank said the country was now in a "pre-emptive default".

Later on Thursday, two of the world's biggest credit rating agencies also said Sri Lanka had defaulted.」

「The country's economy has been hit hard by the pandemic, rising energy prices, and populist tax cuts. A chronic shortage of foreign currency and soaring inflation has led to a severe shortage of medicines, fuel and other essentials.」

　人気取りの減税が命取り―と言ったところでまとめてもいいかな。
　ネットでは、西欧のエコな紅茶需要に応えさせられたがゆえの有機農法傾倒とされることもあったようだが―

BBC Sri Lanka: Why is the country in an economic crisis? 20 May 2022 Sri Lanka: Why is the country in an economic crisis?

「For months, Sri Lanka has lacked the foreign currency to buy all that it needs from abroad. Shortages of food and fuel have caused prices to soar. Inflation is now running at 30%.」

「The government also has also racked up huge debts with countries including China, to fund what critics have called unnecessary infrastructure projects.」

「When Sri Lanka's foreign currency shortages became a serious problem in early 2021, the government tried to limit the outflow by banning imports of chemical fertiliser, telling farmers to use locally sourced organic fertilisers instead.」

　―ぶっちゃけ、単にカネがないからやむを得ず差し当たり何とかなるかもしれない夢と希望とを詰め込みまくって、とにかく何でもいいから有機っぽいものを投入しろと呼号しただけ―だったよねえ（ため息）。