Sri Lanka is preparing for a major celebration following the battlefield defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, ending a quarter-century civil war. Joyous outbursts that are mixed with some lingering anxiety, especially among the minority Tamils who wonder what the new era will bring for them.
斯里兰卡正准备举行结束长达四分之一世纪内战的盛大庆祝活动。此前泰米尔伊拉姆猛虎解放组织在战斗中被击败。人们在欣喜若狂庆祝之余，仍感到一些挥之不去的焦虑，尤其是在少数民族泰米尔人当中。他们担心，新时代的到来对他们意味着什么。
President Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped off his aircraft, on his return from Jordan, to the cheers of supporters who hailed him as a national hero.
斯里兰卡总统拉贾帕克萨访问约旦回国，他走下飞机，向欢呼的支持者致意。欢呼的人群高呼他是斯里兰卡的民族英雄。
On the streets of Colombo, some people hoisted the Sri Lankan flag and set off firecrackers in celebration.
在首都科伦坡的街道上，一些人高举着斯里兰卡国旗，燃放鞭炮，以示庆祝。
After word came that the rebels had announced their guns would finally gone silent in the northeast, young people celebrated in the backs of slowly moving vehicles along the famous Galle Face seaside boulevard.
在消息传来，东北部的反政府武装已宣布放下武器后，年轻人在沿着著名的加勒菲斯海滨大道缓慢行驶的车辆后面，热烈庆祝。
But there are no signs, yet, of any mass celebration. A national victory speech by the president is anticipated Monday with a declaration of a national holiday.
但是目前还看不到任何大规模庆祝活动的迹象。预计总统拉贾帕克萨将于星期一向全国发表胜利讲话，并宣布国庆节。
The capital, the sight of many suicide bombings and political assassinations over the years by the Tamil Tigers, still has its typically heavy security presence with numerous roadblocks in some sensitive areas. There motorists and pedestrians are asked to produce ID cards by armed soldiers. Those who are ethnic Tamils can be expected to come under further scrutiny in high security zones.
首都科伦坡过去多年来一直是泰米尔猛虎反政府武装发动很多自杀式炸弹袭击和政治暗杀的地方。目前这里仍然如以往一样，戒备森严，一些敏感地区设置了很多路障。全副武装的军人要求机动车驾驶员和行人出示身份证。在高度戒备的地区，少数民族泰米尔人会受到进一步的盘查。
It is symbolic of the ethnic and linguistic divide affecting the Tamil minority, treatment they say over the decades and even centuries, that led to the violent uprising.
这象征着种族和语言分歧对泰米尔少数民族的影响。他们表示，过去数十年，乃至数百年来，泰米尔人受到的待遇导致了暴力反抗。
Many here express hope the defeat of the armed rebels will usher in a new era. But for that to happen civil activists say the government must make good on promises to rehabilitate Tamil society and foster equal rights. Others say the burden also lies with Tamil politicians and activists to pursue a peaceful path for addressing their long-standing grievances.
首都的很多人表示，他们希望武装反叛份子的失败将开创一个新时代。但是一些民权活动人士认为，要给斯里兰卡带来一个新时代，政府必需兑现他们的承诺，重建泰米尔社会，促进平等权利。有些人说，重任落在了泰米尔政治家和活动人士的肩上，他们应追求一条和平道路，来解决他们长期的不满。 |