VOA标准英语2009年-Report Calls for Sri Lanka to Urgently

The Sri Lanka branch of the global civic¹ group, Transparency International, is lamenting² the lack of progress in fighting corruption³ there following the military's victory in the 25-year-civil war.

Steve Herman | New Delhi 15 December 2009

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa waves to supporters as he arrives for a meeting in Colombo, 15 Dec 2009

"After the war it must now focus on governance," says Transparency International Sri Lanka Deputy Executive Director Rukshana Nanayakkara.

An anti-corruption civic organization says graft⁴ and violence are marring Sri Lanka's recovery after the end of its civil war.  

The Sri Lanka branch of the global civic group, Transparency International, is lamenting the lack of progress in fighting corruption there following the military's victory in the 25-year-civil war.

In its annual governance report for Sri Lanka, the organization notes some improvement, but says the country's recovery is being hampered⁵ by a continued lack of accountability, democracy and transparency.

Transparency International Sri Lanka Deputy Executive Director Rukshana Nanayakkara says it is incumbent⁶ on the government to usher⁷ in a new era.

"After the war it must now focus on governance.  And, then, if we have good governance it will close a lot of avenues for corruption," he said.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that after the defeat of the rebel Tamil Tigers the next war would have to be against corruption.  But critics allege⁸ he and his two brothers - one who is the defense⁹ secretary and the other a key presidential advisor¹⁰ - have used their positions to amass¹¹ wealth and squander¹² public resources.

Nanayakkara tells VOA News corruption allegations have been leveled at the government for years.

"It is more about a problem of grand corruption and lack of commitment from the government.  They are interested in basically earning money for themselves," he said.

Mr. Rajapaksa faces a significant challenge in the January 26 presidential election from his former top military chief, General Sarath Fonseka, who has called bribery¹³ and corruption "rampant¹⁴" in the country.

The annual Transparency report also takes Sri Lanka to task for not improving human rights and media freedom.  Several dozen Sri Lankan journalists have been killed in the past five years.

 

1 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

2 lamenting   

adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Katydids were lamenting fall's approach. 蝈蝈儿正为秋天临近而哀鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Lamenting because the papers hadn't been destroyed and the money kept. 她正在吃后悔药呢，后悔自己没有毁了那张字条，把钱昧下来！ 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

5 hampered   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

6 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

7 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

8 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

11 amass   

vt.积累，积聚

参考例句：

• How had he amassed his fortune?他是如何积累财富的呢？
• The capitalists amass great wealth by exploiting workers.资本家剥削工人而积累了巨额财富。

12 squander   

v.浪费，挥霍

参考例句：

• Don't squander your time in reading those dime novels.不要把你的时间浪费在读那些胡编乱造的廉价小说上。
• Every chance is precious，so don't squander any chance away!每次机会都很宝贵，所以不要将任何一个白白放走。

13 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

14 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。