《中英對照讀新聞》Sri Lanka's oil斯里蘭卡的石油

◎ 羅彥傑

Sri Lanka removed a 15 percent tax on diesel in a bid to hold retail prices steady amid rising international oil prices, the finance minister said.

斯里蘭卡廢除15%的柴油稅，以便在國際油價一片漲價聲中能維持零售價格穩定，財政部長說。

Minister Sarath Amunugama said the government will lose seven billion rupees (70 million dollars) because of the tax cut, but the move was aimed at achieving price stability.

薩拉斯•阿姆奴加瑪說，政府將因為減稅而損失70億盧比（7000萬美元），但此舉目的是要穩定價格。

Sri Lanka's public transport uses diesel extensively while smaller three-wheel taxis are gasoline powered. Taxi owners have been asking for a subsidy to maintain their fares amid rising fuel costs.

斯里蘭卡的大眾運輸廣泛使用柴油，而較小的三輪計程車則以汽油做為動力。計程車業者已開始要求津貼，以便在燃料成本上揚之際維持車費。

In June, the government raised retail prices of fuel by 7.8 percent, a month after a 16.5 percent increase aimed at easing pressure on the worsening balance of payments situation.

6月間，政府調高燃料零售價格7.8%，在此之前一個月才調高16.5%，目的都是為了要緩和收支平衡持續惡化的壓力。

Despite the slashing of the 15 percent value added tax, there will be no reduction in the current retail price, according to the minister.

儘管刪掉15%的加值稅，目前的零售價格將不會降低，根據部長的說法。

新聞辭典

in a bid to：指企圖、努力爭取…。例句：The two sides have been locked in discussion in a bid to find a compromise.（雙方持續談判，希望找到妥協之道。）

amid：在…之間、在…之中。例句：The government collapsed amid budget quarrels.（政府在預算爭議中垮台。）

aim：對準、瞄準(at)，常用被動式，指以…為目的。例句：This course is aimed at improving participants' spoken English skills through games and communication activities.（這項課程的目的是要透過遊戲與溝通活動來改善參與者的口說英語技巧。）

subsidy：津貼，補助金。例句：The subsidy for education must depend on the number of students and teachers.（教育津貼必須取決於學生與教師的人數。）