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Sri Lanka protestors sceptical that president will quit - BBC News

Video vocabulary

change

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US / tʃeɪndʒ /

UK / tʃendʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Exchange of one set of clothes for another
  • Money in the form of coins instead of paper
  • Money returned after giving too much
  • Act of making or becoming something else
  • verb
  • To exchange one set of clothes for another
  • To exchange one kind of money for another
  • To replace something with another thing
  • To make or become something else
  • To go from one train, bus, etc. and go to another

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

common

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US / 'kɒmən /

UK / ˈkɑmən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Shared; Belonging to or used by everyone
  • Typical, normal; not unusual
  • noun
  • Area in a city or town that is open to everyone
  • Field near a village owned by the local community

election

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US / ɪ'lekʃn /

UK / ɪˈlɛkʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Process of choosing someone by voting

editor

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US / ˈedɪtə(r) /

UK / ˈɛdɪtɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Person deciding the contents of a book or magazine
  • Person making final version of a movie, text, book

its

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US / ɪts /

UK / ɪts /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Referring to or belonging to ‘it’
  • determiner
  • Of something; belonging or related to something
  • other
  • Possessive form of “it”

minister

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US / 'mɪnɪstə(r) /

UK / ˈmɪnɪstɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • An official who heads a government department
  • Person who performs Christian services

motorbike

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US / ˈməʊtəbaɪk /

UK / ˈmotɚˌbaɪk /

B2
  • noun
  • Motorcycle; vehicle with two wheels and an engine

petrol

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US / ˈpetrəl /

UK / ˈpɛtrəl /

B1
  • noun
  • Liquid used as fuel in car engines; (US) gasoline

remove

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US / rɪˈmu:v /

UK / rɪˈmuv /

A1
  • verb
  • To get rid of something completely
  • To make someone leave his or her job or position
  • To move, erase or take away from a place
  • To take something off (e.g. clothing)

who

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US / hu: /

UK / hu /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Which person
  • Used to introduce information about people

act

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US / ækt /

UK / ækt /

A1
  • noun
  • What someone did; action; behavior
  • A law or rule passed by a government we must obey
  • One of the parts that a stage play is divided into
  • verb
  • To behave in a certain way
  • To perform on a stage or in a movie

country

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US / ˈkʌntri /

UK / ˈkʌntri /

A1
  • noun
  • An area of land that is controlled by a government
  • Open land that is away from towns and cities

goodwill

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US / ˌgʊdˈwɪl /

UK / ˈɡʊdˈwɪl /

B2
  • noun
  • An attitude of kindness or helpfulness

look

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US / lʊk /

UK / lʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's beauty or physical attractiveness
  • Particular style of dress, clothes, or appearance
  • The way someone, something appears to be
  • Act of searching for or examining something
  • verb
  • To appear to be; seem

kilometre

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US / ˈkɪləmi:tə(r) /

UK / ˈkɪləmiːtər /

A1
  • noun
  • A metric unit of length equal to 1000 metres

speaker

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US / 'spi:kə(r) /

UK / ˈspikɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Electronic device for making or broadcasting sound
  • Person who makes a speech before a group

crowd

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US / kraʊd /

UK / kraʊd /

A2
  • noun
  • Large group of people together in one place
  • verb
  • To force too many things, people into
  • (Lots of people) to meet together in one place

queue

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US / kju: /

UK / kju /

B1
  • noun
  • Line of people or cars waiting for something

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

post

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US / pəʊst /

UK / post /

A1
  • noun
  • Message delivered or shared in an online group
  • Piece of wood, metal in the ground for support
  • Job or position within an organization or company
  • Place where a soldier, etc. is ordered to go
  • verb
  • To send a letter or package using stamps
  • To share a message on an internet discussion group
  • To send a soldier somewhere to do a job
  • To put a message in public for everyone to see

throw

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US / θrəʊ /

UK / θroʊ /

A1
  • noun
  • Arm movement to make a thing fly through the air
  • Loose cloth or blanket (usually over a chair)
  • Forcibly putting someone on the ground
  • verb
  • To use your arm to make something fly in the air
  • To move part of your body suddenly and forcefully
  • To confuse or upset someone
  • (E.g. judo) to forcibly put someone on the ground
  • To put something somewhere suddenly and roughly

work

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US / wɜ:k /

UK / wɚk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Activity completed in order to make money
  • noun
  • The product of some artistic or literary endeavor
  • Everything created by an author, artist, musician
  • Activity you do in order to make money
  • Place of employment
  • Final product or result of a some labor or effort
  • verb
  • To bring into a specific state of success
  • To be functioning properly, e.g. a car
  • To do your job in your company or workplace
  • To make an effort to do something
  • To operate a machine or device

vote

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US / vəʊt /

UK / vot /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of deciding who to choose in an election
  • verb
  • To make a choice for or against, as in an election

huge

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US / hju:dʒ /

UK / hjudʒ /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Very very large

lived

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US / 'lɪvd /

UK / 'lɪvd /

A1
  • verb
  • To be alive
  • To experience a particular type of life
  • To make your home in a house or town

reflect

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US / rɪ'flekt /

UK / rɪˈflɛkt /

A2
  • verb
  • To indicate or be a sign of something
  • To bounce back light, heat, sound from a surface
  • To show an image in glass, water, a mirror etc.
  • To think of something seriously and carefully

quit

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US / kwɪt /

UK / kwɪt /

B1
  • other
  • To leave a school etc. without finishing
  • verb
  • To leave a job
  • To leave a place
  • To leave a school etc. without finishing
  • To end an action or activity

their

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US / ðɛː /

UK / ðer /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to them

way

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US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

wednesday

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US / ˈwenzdeɪ /

UK / ˈwenzdeɪ /

A1
  • noun
  • Third day of the week; the day after Tuesday

know

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US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

moment

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US / 'məʊmənt /

UK / 'moʊmənt /

A1
  • noun
  • Very short or brief period of time
  • A particular period in time

public

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US / 'pʌblɪk /

UK / ˈpʌblɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Owned by the government
  • Concerning society in general
  • Being available or accessible to people in general
  • Known or able to be known by all people

station

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US / 'steɪʃn /

UK / ˈsteʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Building, area, place used for a specific reason
  • A person's place in society
  • Place where you can catch a train or a bus
  • Company that broadcasts radio or TV programs
  • verb
  • (Army) to be posted to a place to perform duties
  • To put a person in a certain place or position

prime

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US / praɪm /

UK / praɪm /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the highest in quality or value
  • Concerning the highest level of achievement
  • Most important, chief importance in value
  • verb
  • To get a person ready for; prepare someone
  • To coat with paint to prepare it for the main coat

unlikely

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US / ʌnˈlaɪkli /

UK / ʌnˈlaɪkli /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Not seeming suitable for a particular purpose
  • adverb
  • Not likely to happen; not likely to be the truth

away

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US / ə'weɪ /

UK / əˈwe /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not present
  • adverb
  • Disappear completely
  • Doing something with a lot of energy
  • Not here; far from here; in a different direction
  • To a different area, location

curious

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US / ˈkjʊəriəs /

UK / ˈkjʊriəs /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Wanting to know more about something
  • Attracting interest by being strange or unusual

economic

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US / ˌi:kəˈnɒmɪk /

UK / ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪk, ˌikə- /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning trade, industry, and money

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

without

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US / wɪˈðaʊt /

UK / wɪðˈaʊt, wɪθ- /

A1
  • preposition
  • Not with; not having

anytime

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US / 'enɪˌtaɪm /

UK / ˈɛniˌtaɪm /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a time you choose, it's not important when

government

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US / ˈgʌvənmənt /

UK / ˈɡʌvənmənt /

A1
  • noun
  • Group of people and system that rule a nation

his

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US / hɪz /

UK / hɪz /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Something belonging to a male person

community

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US / kə'mju:nətɪ /

UK / kəˈmjunɪti /

A2
  • noun
  • Group of people who share a common idea or area

desperation

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US / ˌdespəˈreɪʃn /

UK / ˌdɛspəˈreʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Feeling all hope is lost and you will do anything

see

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US / si: /

UK / si /

A1
  • verb
  • To go on a date with someone
  • To predict whether something is, or will be true
  • To understand what someone says
  • To use your eyes to look at something
  • To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
  • To visit or meet with someone
  • To find out by waiting or looking
  • To watch (a game, movie or TV show)

forward

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US / 'fɔ:wəd /

UK / ˈfɔrwəd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Toward what is ahead; in front
  • Acting in a socially aggressive manner; pushy
  • adverb
  • Toward the front in place; in front
  • Toward a future time; to a more advanced state
  • verb
  • To send something to another address or person

import

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US / 'ɪmpɔ:t /

UK / ˈɪmpɔrt /

A2
  • noun
  • Goods brought into a country from another
  • Importance of a matter or issue
  • verb
  • To bring goods from one country into another

power

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US / 'paʊə(r) /

UK / ˈpaʊɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Legal or official right to perform certain actions
  • Ability to move forcefully and quickly
  • Energy of something (e.g. electricity or fuel)
  • Mathematical way to multiply a number
  • Condition of being in political control
  • Physical force, energy, and strength
  • verb
  • To give energy to something, e.g. by electricity
  • To move something forcefully and quickly

than

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US / ðən /

UK / ðən /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to compare two things that are not equal

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

outside

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US / ˌaʊtˈsaɪd /

UK / aʊtˈsaɪd, ˈaʊtˌsaɪd /

A2
  • adverb
  • Beyond the limits or edges of some place, thing
  • noun
  • Area around or near something, such as a building
  • preposition
  • Beyond the limits or edges of some place, thing

palace

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US / ˈpæləs /

UK / ˈpælɪs /

B1
  • noun
  • Official home of a ruler, such as a king or queen

run

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US / rʌn /

UK / rʌn /

A1
  • noun
  • Journey between two places made by ship or car
  • Series of similar things or successes and failures
  • Act of running; exercise of running
  • verb
  • To depart or travel according to a schedule
  • To cause an animal to move in a certain direction
  • (Of an engine) to be operating
  • To start or use a computer program
  • To flow in a certain direction, like a liquid
  • To manage or operate a business
  • To operate or drive something
  • (Of a road) to go from one place to another
  • To move your legs faster than walking

accuse

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US / ə'kju:z /

UK / əˈkjuz /

A2
  • verb
  • To claim that someone has done something wrong

bankrupt

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US / ˈbæŋkrʌpt /

UK / ˈbæŋkˌrʌpt, -rəpt /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Unable to pay debts
  • verb
  • To cause to not be able to pay debts

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

bad

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US / bæd /

UK / bæd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not good; wrong
  • Lacking in good morals; evil
  • No longer fresh; spoiled

transport

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US / ˈtrænspɔ:t /

UK / ˈtrænspɔ:rt /

A2
  • noun
  • Very strong uncontrollable emotion, e.g. delight
  • Vehicle used to take soldiers to other places
  • verb
  • To carry things from one place to another
  • To cause to feel you are in a previous time

coverage

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US / ˈkʌvərɪdʒ /

UK / ˈkʌvərɪdʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • Type of programs a radio or TV station broadcasts

rickshaw

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US / ˈrɪkʃɔ: /

UK / ˈrɪkʃɔː /

A1
  • noun
  • A small two-wheeled cart for one passenger; pulled by one person

successor

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US / səkˈsesə(r) /

UK / səkˈsɛsɚ /

B2
  • noun
  • Person who takes over the position of another

happy

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US / ˈhæpi /

UK / ˈhæpi /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Feeling pleasure or joy; glad

misery

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US / 'mɪzərɪ /

UK / ˈmɪzəri /

B1
  • noun
  • Thing that causes unhappiness
  • Extreme suffering or unhappiness

sceptical

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US / ˈskeptɪkl /

UK / ˈskɛptɪkəl /

C2
  • adjecitve
  • Doubting that something is true/probable/useful

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

also

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US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /

UK / ˈɔlso /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition; too; in a similar way

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

live

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US / lɪv /

UK / liv /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being broadcast as events happen, not recorded
  • Carrying electric current; able to give a shock
  • Glowing because burning; hot
  • Not yet killed (for food)
  • adverb
  • (Music, drama) as it is performed
  • verb
  • To be alive
  • To experience a particular type of life
  • To make your home in a house or town

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

essential

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US / ɪ'senʃl /

UK / ɪˈsɛnʃəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Extremely or most important and necessary

office

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US / ˈɒfɪs /

UK / ˈɔ:fɪs /

A1
  • noun
  • Room or building used for business
  • Important job position, often in a government

two

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2

come

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US / kʌm /

UK / kʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To arrive at a place
  • (Of mail) to be delivered
  • To move toward someone; go with someone
  • To reach a certain point or state

help

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US / help /

UK / hɛlp /

A1
  • noun
  • Something given to enable a person to do something
  • Assistance given to someone in need
  • Someone who makes something easier or possible
  • verb
  • To act to enable a person to do something; assist
  • To make something better or less difficult

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

beyond

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US / bɪ'jɒnd /

UK / biˈɑnd, bɪˈjɑnd /

A2
  • adverb
  • On or to the farther side
  • In addition to
  • preposition
  • Later in time than
  • Out of the limits of

form

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US / fɔ:m /

UK / fɔrm /

A1
  • noun
  • Sports team or person's current winning record
  • Document you complete when making an application
  • Visible shape or style; type; kind
  • verb
  • To organize something such as a club or group
  • To develop; to come into a shape or substance
  • To make something into a particular shape

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

mismanage

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US / ˌmɪsˈmænɪdʒ /

UK / ˌmɪsˈmænɪdʒ /

A1
  • verb
  • To run or operate (a business) badly

presidential

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US / ˌprezɪ'denʃl /

UK / ˌprɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the president

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

where

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US / hwɛə /

UK / hwɛr, wɛr /

A1
  • conjunction
  • At or in the place which
  • In whatever place
  • pronoun
  • Word you use to ask the location of something

face

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US / feɪs /

UK / fes /

A1
  • noun
  • Side or outer surface of something
  • An expression using mouth, nose, eyes etc.
  • Front part of the head where eyes, mouth etc. are
  • Characteristics you show in public
  • verb
  • To cover a surface with something like paint
  • To deal with a problem or responsibilities
  • To look toward; point in a certain direction

begin

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US / bɪ'ɡɪn /

UK / ˈbeɡɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To do the first part of an action; to start

soon

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US / su:n /

UK / sun /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a time not long from now

crisis

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US / 'kraɪsɪs /

UK / ˈkraɪsɪs /

B1
  • noun
  • Unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty

compound

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US / 'kɒmpaʊnd /

UK / kɑmˈpaUnd /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • (Of a term) created by combining two or more words
  • noun
  • Series of buildings that are walled or fenced off
  • Chemical made up of several others
  • Closed walled area, as in a prison
  • Something formed by combining elements/parts
  • Term created by using two or more words together
  • verb
  • To pay interest on a loan including the interest
  • To make something from various parts or components
  • To make a mistake or problem worse

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

immediate

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US / ɪˈmi:diət /

UK / ɪˈmidiɪt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being the very next to or just after
  • Done without delay; straight away

through

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US / θru: /

UK / θru /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • having finished using or doing something
  • adverb
  • From the beginning of something until the end
  • preposition
  • Over, in, across an entire thing or place
  • Allowing you to pass between, or to
  • By a particular way or process; by the use of

why

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US / waɪ /

UK / hwaɪ, waɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Question word to ask for a reason
  • exclamation
  • (Used to express surprise or approval)

protest

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US / 'prəʊtest /

UK / ˈproʊtɛst /

A2
  • noun
  • Forceful argument against something
  • Objection to something
  • verb
  • To argue against something in a forceful way
  • To express a strong objection or dislike

shortage

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US / ˈʃɔ:tɪdʒ /

UK / ˈʃɔ:rtɪdʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • A lack of something necessary

start

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US / stɑ:t /

UK / stɑrt /

A1
  • noun
  • First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
  • First opportunity to achieve something, e.g. a job
  • Sudden action or movement because you are scared
  • other
  • Beginning of something in place or time
  • verb
  • To do, be or happen for the first time; begin
  • To turn something on

driver

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US / ˈdraɪvə(r) /

UK / ˈdraɪvɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • People who move cattle from one place to another
  • Someone who operates a vehicle
  • A club with a wooden head used when playing golf

news

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US / nju:z /

UK / nu:z /

A1
  • noun
  • Broadcast on radio or TV about recent events
  • Information about recent events

situation

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US / ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn /

UK / ˌsɪtʃuˈeʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Place, position or area that something is in
  • Circumstance or condition surrounding an event
  • An unexpected problem or difficulty

struggle

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US / 'strʌɡl /

UK / ˈstrʌɡəl /

A2
  • noun
  • Strong efforts made to do something difficult
  • verb
  • To try very hard to do something difficult

unclear

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US / ˌʌnˈklɪə(r) /

UK / ˌʌnˈklɪr /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Not easy to understand; not obvious

achieve

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US / ə'tʃi:v /

UK / əˈtʃiv /

A2
  • verb
  • To succeed in doing good, usually by working hard

but

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US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used before you say something different, opposite

saturday

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US / /

UK / /

A1
  • noun
  • Sixth day of the week; the day after Friday

support

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US / səˈpɔ:t /

UK / səˈpɔrt, -ˈport /

A1
  • noun
  • Assistance or advice given to someone
  • Evidence that helps prove something is true
  • A thing to hold up or prevent from falling down
  • verb
  • To give assistance or advice to someone
  • To help prove or show that something is true
  • To hold up or prevent from falling down

sri

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US / ʃriː /

UK / ʃriː /

A1
  • noun
  • A title of respect used before the name of a man, a god, or a sacred book.

caretaker

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US / ˈkeəteɪkə(r) /

UK / ˈkerteɪkə(r) /

C1
  • noun
  • Job of taking care of others or their property

loan

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US / ləʊn /

UK / lon /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of allowing someone to borrow something
  • verb
  • To give money, etc. that must be paid back

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

our

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US / 'aʊə(r) /

UK / aʊr /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to us

against

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US / əˈgenst /

UK / əˈɡenst /

A1
  • preposition
  • In physical contact with, as for support; next to
  • In opposition to; disagreeing with

convert

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US / kən'vɜ:t /

UK / kənˈvɚt /

A2
  • noun
  • Person switching from one belief system to another
  • verb
  • To switch from a religion, belief etc. to another
  • To change form, character, or function to another

leader

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US / ˈli:də(r) /

UK / ˈlidɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Person who is in charge of a group or task
  • Person or group who is currently winning

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

pillar

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US / ˈpɪlə(r) /

UK / ˈpɪlɚ /

B2
  • noun
  • Tall strong post that supports a building
  • Person in a group who is important or respected
  • Very important or essential idea or belief

politic

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US / ˈpɒlətɪk /

UK / ˈpɑlɪtɪk /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Careful what you say; diplomatic

south

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US / saʊθ /

UK / saʊθ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Direction to your right when facing the rising sun
  • Coming from the opposite direction from north
  • noun
  • The direction to your right of the rising sun

sight

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US / saɪt /

UK / saɪt /

A2
  • noun
  • Things or people that one can see
  • Range or distance that someone can see
  • Famous places often visited by tourists
  • Sense that allows you to see
  • Act of seeing someone or something
  • verb
  • To aim (a gun) at something to get your range
  • To see something rare or unusual

sprawl

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US / sprɔ:l /

UK / sprɔl /

B2
  • verb
  • To spread out in an uncontrolled way

announcement

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US / əˈnaʊnsmənt /

UK / əˈnaʊnsmənt /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of informing people about something publicly

fuel

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US / 'fju:əl /

UK / ˈfjuəl /

A2
  • noun
  • Material used to produce heat or power when burned
  • verb
  • To give power to (a mob, anger, etc.); incite
  • To provide gas or petrol for something

want

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US / wɔnt /

UK / wɑnt, wɔnt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something you desire or wish for
  • State or condition of poverty
  • verb
  • To desire or wish for something; hope for a thing

least

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US / li:st /

UK / list /

A1
  • adverb
  • In the smallest or lowest way
  • noun
  • Something that is of the lowest or smallest degree

ground

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US / graʊnd /

UK / ɡraʊnd /

A1
  • noun
  • Connection of electrical equipment to earth
  • Place where people play particular sports
  • Solid surface of the earth that we stand on
  • verb
  • To break (coffee, etc.) into tiny bits with machine
  • To make loud jarring noise by pressing hard
  • To make sharp or smooth through friction
  • To press together with force making a sound
  • To punish someone by not allowing them to go out
  • To hit the bottom
  • (Of boat) to hit the bottom so it cannot move
  • To prevent a plane from taking off
  • To place the ball over the goal line in rugby

aware

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US / əˈwɛə /

UK / əˈwɛr /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Knowing or feeling that something exists

get

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US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

president

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US / ˈprezɪdənt /

UK / ˈprɛzɪdənt,-ˌdɛnt /

A2
  • noun
  • Person in charge of a country, or organization

asia

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US / ˈeɪʒə /

UK / ˈeɪʒə /

A1
  • noun
  • Largest continent with Europe on the west to form Eurasia
  • other
  • Nations of the Asian continent collectively

case

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US / keɪs /

UK / kes /

A1
  • noun
  • Container used to carry things, e.g. clothes
  • Set of facts about a crime
  • Set of facts about an event
  • Example or instance of something
  • verb
  • To find out about a place, as in planning to steal

mean

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US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

standstill

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US / ˈstændstɪl /

UK / ˈstændˌstɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Situation in which no advancement is possible

even

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US / 'i:vn /

UK / ˈivən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in influence, power, possibility etc.
  • Being divided equally or fairly
  • (Of teams/contest) with similar chances of success
  • Smooth, level, or regular
  • Can be divided by 2; ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
  • At a regular, equally steady manner
  • Remaining steady and unchanging
  • adverb
  • (When this is surprising) as well; too
  • (Used to compare two things/stress the difference)
  • verb
  • To make something level; to flatten
  • To make something equal

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

auto

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US / ˈɔ:təʊ /

UK / ˈɔ:toʊ /

B2
  • noun
  • Car; a road vehicle with four or more wheels

lanka

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US / ˈlɑːŋkə /

UK / ˈlæŋkə /

A1

place

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US / pleɪs /

UK / ples /

A1
  • noun
  • Particular location, area or region
  • verb
  • To put someone in a particular type of situation
  • To put something in a certain location or position

disrupt

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US / dɪsˈrʌpt /

UK / dɪsˈrʌpt /

B2
  • verb
  • To cause a disturbance in an activity in progress

political

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US / pəˈlɪtɪkl /

UK / pəˈlɪtɪkəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being active or interested in government matters
  • Diplomatic
  • Of the system of elections and government
  • Concerning government or public affairs
  • Involved in getting of power/influence in a group

solve

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US / sɒlv /

UK / sɑ:lv /

A2
  • verb
  • To figure out a way to handle a difficult problem

stay

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US / steɪ /

UK / ste /

A1
  • noun
  • Legal order to stop or delay an action
  • Strong rope or wire that supports a ship's mast
  • Period of time spent living in or visiting a place
  • verb
  • To keep trying without giving up
  • To remain in the same place and not move away
  • To spend time visiting a place or someone's home

reality

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US / rɪ'ælətɪ /

UK / riˈælɪti /

A2
  • noun
  • What is true, as opposed to what is imagined

popular

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US / ˈpɒpjələ(r) /

UK / ˈpɑ:pjələ(r) /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Liked or enjoyed by many people

economy

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US / ɪ'kɒnəmɪ /

UK / ɪˈkɑnəmi /

A1
  • noun
  • Using money, resources in a careful, effective way
  • Total of all goods, services and wages in an area

wait

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US / weɪt /

UK / wet /

A1
  • verb
  • To delay or not do something until later
  • To spend time until an expected thing happens
  • To remain in a place until a thing happens

capture

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US / 'kæptʃə(r) /

UK / ˈkæptʃɚ /

B1
  • verb
  • To attract and hold e.g. interest, attention
  • To record, tape, or film something
  • To catch and prevent from being free
  • To take control of a place or object by force

severely

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US / sə'vɪrlɪ /

UK / səˈvɪrlɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • Extremely bad or harsh

actually

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US / ˈæktʃuəli /

UK / ˈæktʃuəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to add new (often different) information

historic

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US / hɪˈstɒrɪk /

UK / hɪˈstɔrɪk, -ˈstɑr- /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • (Of past event) having an effect on future; famous
  • Connected with the past

crippling

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US / 'krɪplɪŋ /

UK / ˈkrɪplɪŋ /

B2
  • verb
  • To hurt and make useless

continue

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US / kən'tɪnju: /

UK / kənˈtɪnju /

A1
  • verb
  • To do something without stopping, or after pausing
  • To start doing again after a break, pause, or stop

meantime

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US / ˈmi:ntaɪm /

UK / ˈminˌtaɪm /

B1
  • noun
  • For the present; for a while

unless

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US / ənˈles /

UK / ʌnˈlɛs /

A2
  • conjunction
  • Negative of 'if'

here

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • adverb
  • In this place; at this location, position or time

occupy

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US / 'ɒkjʊpaɪ /

UK / ˈɑkjəˌpaɪ /

A2
  • verb
  • To enter and take control of land/property
  • To fill a time, a space, or an area
  • To live in a particular building
  • To fill someone's thoughts or make a person busy

new

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US / nju: /

UK / nu, nju /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not old, recently born, built or made
  • Being or doing something for the first time
  • Not felt, seen or known previously
  • Having been recently bought or obtained

day

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US / deɪ /

UK / de /

A1
  • noun
  • A period of 24 hours beginning at midnight
  • The period of time when it is light outside
  • Person's name

item

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US / ˈaɪtəm /

UK / ˈaɪtəm /

A2
  • noun
  • Single, brief piece of news or reporting
  • Distinct, individual thing, often part of a group

cherish

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US / ˈtʃerɪʃ /

UK / ˈtʃɛrɪʃ /

B1
  • verb
  • To care a lot about or love someone or something
  • To remember or keep something with a lot of care

many

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US / 'menɪ /

UK / ˈmɛni /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer a large number of things

thousand

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US / ˈθaʊznd /

UK / ˈθaʊzənd /

A1
  • number
  • Number 1,000

will

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US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it
  • Introduction to Video Content
  • Thousands of protestors in Sri Lanka remain sceptical that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will actually quit, despite the caretaker president stating that he will resign on Wednesday. The protests, which have been ongoing for months, accuse the president of mismanaging the economy, resulting in bankruptcy and a struggle to import essential items. The country is facing a severe shortage of fuel, causing the economy to come to a standstill and disrupting public transport. Sri Lankans are desperate for a resolution, but even a new government may not be able to alleviate the crisis without international assistance. Amidst the political turmoil, Sri Lankans are also curious to know how their president lived.
  • Subtitles section
  • We start in Sri Lanka, where thousands of protesters continue to occupy the presidential palace.
  • They remain sceptical that the president and prime minister will actually quit.
  • President Rajapaksa has not made a formal announcement and it’s unclear where he is.
  • But the speaker, who is caretaker president, has said he will resign on Wednesday.
  • Our South Asia editor, Anbarasa Netirajan, begins our coverage.
  • A historic moment for many Sri Lankans.
  • They want to cherish it and capture it.
  • Thousands have been coming to see the office of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that was stormed by huge crowds on Saturday.
  • A culmination of months-long protests against the president, accusing him of mismanaging the economy.
  • Sri Lanka is bankrupt.
  • It is struggling to import essential items.
  • Situation is so bad.
  • We are here to come.
  • We are here to throw away this bad politics.
  • So I am happy to stay in here today.
  • Why did you come here to see this place?
  • We have to stay together in this situation.
  • So that’s why I’m here.
  • Kilometre-long queues outside a petrol station are a common sight.
  • Without fuel, the economy has come to a standstill.
  • Public transport is severely disrupted.
  • The desperation is unlikely to change even if there is a new government.
  • Amidst all this political crisis, Sri Lanka is still facing a crippling shortage of fuel.
  • And look at these three-wheelers, auto rickshaws, motorbikes.
  • They are more than two kilometres long.
  • The auto driver here says he has been waiting in the queue for more than a day.
  • And that reflects the ground reality.
  • Unless the government gets their act together, the international community will not come forward to help them.
  • In the meantime, Sri Lankans are curious to know how their president lived.
  • They are aware this sprawling compound will soon be occupied by his successor.
  • Sri Lanka’s political leaders say they are working to form a new government.
  • Now, Colombo is running from pillar to post for loans.
  • An immediate change in government helps, but a new government that comes in by popular vote through an election will help even more, I think, in converting the goodwill of the international community to support Sri Lanka in the way forward.
  • Sri Lanka is a classic case of a country that was living beyond its means.
  • The protesters say, at least for now, they have achieved what they wanted by removing Mr Rajapaksha from power.
  • But they are also aware this economic misery will not be solved anytime soon.
  • Anbarasanithi Rajan, BBC News, Colombo.