VOA常速英语2008年-Sri Lanka Vows to Defeat Rebels as it Observes

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
04 February 2008

The Sri Lankan government signaled its determination to defeat the Tamil Tiger rebels, as the country observed the 60th anniversary of its independence from Britain with a display of military might. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, tight security surrounded the celebrations after attacks killed nearly 40 people in the past few days, including a bomb Monday that killed at least one soldier.

Troops marched and tanks rolled down the streets of Colombo as Sri Lanka marked its Independence Day on Monday.

Against this backdrop of military power, signaled that his government is determined¹ to crush the Tamil Tiger rebels.

In a speech, he said the challenge before the country is to defeat terrorism. He said security forces are achieving unprecedented² victories against terrorism.

Cabinet minister and government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella says the government has decided³ to defeat the rebels on the battleground instead of negotiating.

"At various stages, the peace negotiations⁴, cease-fires have been introduced, but no results, no tangible⁵ results (we) have been able to obtain through those…. Therefore, we have made that decision that we will be going ahead with defeating terrorism on an all-out scale," Rambukwella said.

The rebels struggle for an independent homeland for the minority Tamil community has led to a bloody⁶ civil strife⁷ in the country for more than a quarter century.

Last month, the government formally ended a truce⁸ with the rebels, overriding⁹ the concerns of the international community, which tried to persuade Colombo to end the conflict through peace negotiations.

Sri Lankan officials have repeatedly expressed confidence that the rebels will be defeated by the end of the year.

Minister Rambukwella says the government will be able to evict¹⁰ the rebels from their bases in the Tamil-dominated north.

"We will be clearing the north, we have already started it, and … strategically, and very systematically¹¹ and determinedly¹² we are on course of defeating terrorism," Rambukwella said.

Monday's ceremonies were held amid a massive security clampdown. In recent months, Colombo has witnessed a wave of suicide bomb attacks, blamed on the rebels.

Hours before the celebrations started, a bomb destroyed an electricity transformer, and another blast killed at least one person. On Sunday 11 people were killed and dozens wounded when a suicide bomber¹³ blew herself up at Colombo's main railway station. A day earlier a bomb on a bus killed 18 people in another town.

Analysts¹⁴ say the continuing bomb attacks show that the government's strategy of defeating the rebels on the battlefield is unlikely to end the strife that has already claimed nearly 70,000 lives.

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

6 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

7 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

8 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

9 overriding   

a.最主要的

参考例句：

• Development is of overriding importance. 发展是硬道理
• My overriding concern is to raise the standards of state education. 我最关心的是提高国民教育水平。

10 evict   

vt.驱逐，赶出，撵走

参考例句：

• The lessor can evict the lessee for failure to pay rent.出租人可驱逐不付租金的承租人。
• The government always says it's for the greater good when they evict farmers from their land.当政府把农民从他们的土地赶出去的时候，总是号称是为了更大众的利益。

11 systematically   

adv.有系统地

参考例句：

• This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。

12 determinedly   

adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地

参考例句：

• "Don't shove me,'said one of the strikers, determinedly. "I'm not doing anything." “别推我，"其中的一个罢工工人坚决地说，"我可没干什么。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Dorothy's chin set determinedly as she looked calmly at him. 多萝西平静地看着他，下巴绷得紧紧的，看来是打定主意了。 来自名作英译部分

13 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

14 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。