Many uses of
trees
Winner
When a mother gives birth to a child he needs a cradle to sleep. When
he gets married he needs a special throne-like chair to sit at his
wedding
ceremony. When he leaves this world, he needs a coffin to be buried in.
Cradle, throne and coffin are all made of wood which is provided by
trees. So trees are an integral part of human life.
Trees are the livewire of human beings and animals it is said. It
means that we need trees in almost every aspect of our day-to-day lives.
Humans and animals need oxygen to live. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from
the air and give us oxygen. All of us can get food from trees; they
provide us with macronutrients and micronutrients.We get rain because of
the trees which also protect the water springs. In addition, we can
obtain medicines, fuel, shelter and shade from trees.
Trees beautify the environment and produce various fragrances loved
by people. There are many industries which depend on trees for raw
material. We export many fruit and medicinal products made from the
produce of trees. The sale of flowers and fruits also gives us a good
income.
Trees love the environment too, because they protect the soil from
erosion, with their roots. Trees also protect the ozone layer which
protect us from harmful radiation from the Sun. What's noteworthy is
that trees give these things without taking a cent. The destruction of
trees will only result in the end of humans. So, be friendly towards
trees and protect them like your own life.
Thisanka Rasahari,
Grade 9A,
WP/Ho/President's College,
Athurugiriya.
Animals are our friends
Winner:
There are various kinds of animals in the world. Some of them are
wild and some others domestic. Some animals have been used by people for
work since ancient times. They are the bull, dog, cow, donkey, elephant
and horse.
The dog helps to protect our homes and properties. The dog is called
man's best friend because it is very loyal and faithful. The cow gives
us nutritious milk and manure, the bull helps to carry goods from one
place to another. The cat helps to catch mice and was held in high
esteem in ancient Egypt.
Some people are kind to animals, but others are not. When people get
angry they chase away the animals, even their pets. Sometimes people
kill them. Some do not give food, shelter and protection to them when
they need it. But animals are our friends. The zebra, the giraffe, the
deer and the rabbit are innocent animals. We must protect both domestic
and wild animals because they are a part of our world and most of them
are also useful to us in many ways.
Azma Noorlin Riaz Hanifa,
Grade 9 D,
St. Anne's Balika Maha Vidyalaya,
Wattala.
Life story of an old book
Winner:
My
name is "Merchant of Venice" written by William Shakespeare. I am the
most interesting drama of all times. People call me a great literary
masterpiece of Shakespeare. I am now very old, worn and torn. I am lying
in an old bookshop without any attention.
I still remember my young days. I was a brand new book at a bookshop.
It was 1994. I was sold to a soldier. He used me with great care. He
took me wherever he went. He read me during his leisure.
He was transferred, to serve in the battle field in Jaffna. It was in
2001. He had already read me completely by then. But as he enjoyed
reading me over and over again he took me along with him to Jaffna.
Jaffna was raging with war during this period. I heard firing and
bombing from dawn to dusk. My master's fellow soldiers were dying
everyday in the battle. Luckily my master managed to survive in the
battle for a long time. He used to read me even in the battle- front,
when he was not in combat. However, he could not avoid being killed,
always. I still remember the dreadful day when my master was killed in
action. I was in his bag. No one rescued me. I was lying on the ground
for months in the Sun and rain. But one fine day, a poor person who came
that way picked me up. He could not read me for he was illiterate. The
next day he took me to an old bookshop and sold me for just ten rupees.
I have been in the shop for months looking for someone to take me. But
still I pray for my old master and the poor man who rescued me.
K. Saffna,
Grade 11,
KM/Carmel Fatima College.
Pinki, my pet
My pet is a parrot. Its name is Pinki.
It is green in colour and has a beack which is red.
It is a talkative bird. It likes to talk with me.
Pinki likes to eat lots of fruits.
Minoli Shehana,
Grade 2,
Vishaka Girls' College,
Bandarawela.
Solving the garbage problem
Winner:
Garbage disposal has become a huge problem for town dwellers as well
as for urban authorities. Our homes, hotels, restaurants, markets,
offices, factories etc. put out tons of rubbish.The authorities have to
find dumping sites for the garbage. Then people who live around such
dumping sites protest about them. No one likes to live next to a garbage
dump because its unhygienic and also stinks.The authorities have to find
not only new sites but also transport to carry the rotting garbage to
these far away sites. Sometimes people at these new sites also protest
and sometimes the drivers, labourers and officials are attacked. As a
result garbage is not collected.People throw their rubbish on roadsides.
Crows, stray cattle, dogs and cats throng these places looking for food.
They tear the bags and scatter the garbage on the roads. The once
beautiful environment becomes an eyesore, then.
Rushda Anverdeen,
Gr. 10 D,
Amina Girls'
National School,Matale.
Handicrafts of Sri Lanka
Winner:
We are Sri Lankans-a proud race with a claim to a rich heritage,
which we inherited from our forefathers. This heritage embraces many
spheres and 'handicrafts' is one of them.
Handicrafts, in definition, means crafts requiring the skill of the
hand. Most Sri Lankan handicrafts are endemic. This is so because,
material used in creating these items are not available everywhere and
also because of certain historical reasons.
Many areas in the country are popular for handicrafts. One such area
which specialises in its own handicrafts is Ambalangoda, situated in the
southern part of the country. Ambalangoda is famous for its exquisite
masks and puppets. Each one of these items is cleverly carved and
decorated with bright colours. Dumbara is yet another area that creates
its own special type of handicrafts - mats. These mats called 'kalala'
are woven in different patterns using colourful dyes, mostly
eye-catching crimson. Some of these gorgeous designs include the
handkerchief, deer and spider designs.
Kundasale and Pilimathalawe are tremendously popular for their brass
work and sliver work. They are greatly admired by many people,
especially tourists.However, a majority of these handicraft producers
are very poor, despite how hard they work. This is because they market
their products to agents at low prices, but the agents export or sell
these products at very high prices. In order to solve this problem, the
state and responsible people must get involved and prepare a plan which
would enable handicraft producers to sell their products at profitable
prices. The place they have in society would gradually improve with the
increase in their financial status. They would become more interested in
their jobs and produce a larger number of handicrafts, which when sold,
would in turn help the economy of our little isle grow. Our traditional
handicrafts need to be protected and given the necessary backing to be
continued for many long years.
Sammani Kitulwatte
Grade 7 D,
Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 8. |