VOA标准英语2010年-Sri Lankan President Woos Tamils

The Sri Lankan president is promising¹ to speed up reconstruction² of Tamil-dominated areas of the country, which have been devastated³ by civil war. The pledge comes as the country heads into the January 26 presidential election, in which the minority Tamil community could play a key role in deciding the winner.

Anjana Pasricha | New Delhi 12 January 2010
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa arrives with a group of children during the launch of his election manifesto⁴ in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, 11 Jan 2010

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Tuesday that the government will spend billions of dollars this year to rebuild infrastructure⁵ in the war-shattered north and east.

He also is offering to consider political demands of the minority Tamil community, such as power sharing-arrangements in parliament and greater autonomy in Tamil dominated areas.   

The promise comes just days after the president visited Jaffna in the north -- the heartland of the Tamils. 

The government has taken other steps, in recent weeks, to improve conditions for Tamil civilians⁶, who were affected⁷ by the military campaign which ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May.  Tens of thousands of Tamils have been released from detention⁸ camps and restrictions⁹ on travel in Tamil-dominated areas have been eased.

Political analysts¹⁰ say President Rajapakse is wooing Tamils, to get their support in the presidential elections being held in two weeks. 

The president called the elections two years ahead of schedule, confident of winning them with the support of the majority Sinhalese community, which widely supported the war against the rebels.

But the unexpected entry of former General Sarath Fonseka, who crafted the military victory against the rebels, into the election fray¹¹ is expected to split the Sinhalese vote.

As a result, all eyes are on the Tamil community, according to Jehan Perera, the head of Colombo's National Peace Council.

"Because the general who led the army is opposing the president, he cannot any longer monopolize¹² the war victory, the credit for it, and this has meant that the Sinhalese vote has split on traditional party lines," he explained.  "And, since that is a somewhat even split, it makes the ethnic¹³ minority vote very important. That is why the Tamil vote comes into play, because the Sri Lanka Tamils are the largest single minority group."

General Fonseka, who is the president's main opponent, is also actively¹⁴ courting the Tamil community.  He has succeeded in getting the backing of the dominant¹⁵ Tamil political party in the country, the Tamil National Alliance. 

On the other hand, analysts say that President Rajapakse is struggling to win strong support from Tamils.

The attention on Tamils, who make up 12.5 percent of the country's 20 million people, marks a key departure from previous elections. It is also the first time in nearly three decades that the Tamils will be able to vote without the Tamil Tiger guerrillas dictating¹⁶ their choice.

The separatist campaign waged by the Tamil Tigers was triggered by complaints of discrimination against the Tamil community by the majority Sinhalese.

 

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

3 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

4 manifesto   

n.宣言，声明

参考例句：

• I was involved in the preparation of Labour's manifesto.我参与了工党宣言的起草工作。
• His manifesto promised measures to protect them.他在宣言里保证要为他们采取保护措施。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

9 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

10 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。

11 fray   

v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗

参考例句：

• Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢？
• Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。

12 monopolize   

v.垄断，独占，专营

参考例句：

• She tried to monopolize his time.她想独占他的时间。
• They are controlling so much cocoa that they are virtually monopolizing the market.他们控制了大量的可可粉，因此他们几乎垄断了整个市场。

13 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

14 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

15 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

16 dictating   

v.大声讲或读( dictate的现在分词 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• The manager was dictating a letter to the secretary. 经理在向秘书口授信稿。 来自辞典例句
• Her face is impassive as she listens to Miller dictating the warrant for her arrest. 她毫无表情地在听米勒口述拘留她的证书。 来自辞典例句