Sports in my school

My school, Vidyakara Balika Vidyalaya, is in the Western Province. Many facilities are provided for various sports conducted by the school. Some of these sports are volleyball, netball, chess, gymnastics and cricket.

Chess and gymnastics are very popular sports in our school.

My school does not have a very big ground, but still we can play volleyball and netball in this ground. Many children like these sports because they are very interesting.

Our teachers encourage us to do sports and games. Students from all grades can participate in these sports. We have gained a good knowledge of these sports.

Every year a sports meet is organised and every child takes part in the events. There are four houses namely ‘Paravi’, ‘Thisara’, ‘Mayura’ and ‘Kokila’.

The children who do sports in our school can also do their studies very well. Our school has won many inter-school competitions and also many zonal matches.

During matches with other schools in the area we have shown a very high standard. Some of our girls have reached national standards too. There are many old girls who are playing for their universities today.

So, sports in our school has come a long way and much fame has been brought to our school as a result of it.

Dinushi Niranga, Year 9, Vidyakara Vidyalaya, Maharagama.

A drought has come

The trees, bushes and vines have all withered. The few leaves left on trees have lost their green colour. The cattle, goats and other animals are roaming about looking for something to eat and drink. They are only skin and bones. What a pathetic sight! No one can help them as there is no water anywhere. A drought has come.

This is Mother Nature’s punishment to human beings. People can’t help these animals because there isn’t enough water even for them to use. All the wells, rivers, streams and lakes have dried up.

Many animals have died due to thirst. Reptiles too could be seen out of the woods looking for water.

We have to go far to find water because we can’t live without it.

The earth has dried up and cracked. The rays of the Sun are very hot and the people can’t bear the heat. During a drought people live in great difficulty, not only because they can’t bear the heat, but also because they cannot find water to drink, cook, wash and cultivate.

Many people contract diseases because of the dead animals lying all over the place, and also by drinking unclean water.We can prevent this if we realise the value of water. We can conserve water by using it carefully. Water should be released to farmers only when required for cultivation in drought-stricken areas.

We must build large tanks like in the ancient times to avoid a water crisis during drought. We must also make people understand the need to conserve water and educate them on the adverse effects of a scarcity of water. Then we can prevent all these problems.

M. Prabhasara Kanchani Leelarathne, Grade 11, WP/Don Pedrick College, Horana.

How trees serve mankind

Trees are very important to all of us. They are a vital force in our environment, providing flowers, fruits, timber, wood and medicines.

Trees absorb harmful chemicals like carbon dioxide from air and in turn give us oxygen. If this process doesn’t take place, the effects of global warming would be great. So, it is clear that trees improve the air we breathe and also filter smoke, dust and ash to clean this air.

Trees help reduce heat and give us shade when the day is hot. They also absorb water and prevent flooding and soil erosion. The fallen leaves not only retain moisture that helps in the growth, but also trap chemicals.

The timber from trees is used for the construction of houses, ships, boats and furniture. The different types of trees help us in different ways.

For example, the latex of the rubber tree is used to make tyres, balls, carpets, erasers, toys and so on. The tea plant gives us the tasty cup of tea and is a valuable source of foreign revenue to our country. The coconut tree which is known as kapruka is a valuable tree. The kernel is used for cooking purposes.

The timber is used to make beams and rafters and the shells, husks and leaves are used as fuel. The ekels are used to make brooms. In fact not a single part of the tree is wasted. So it’s a very useful tree to mankind.There are various herbal trees that provide leaves, flowers and bark to make medicines.

Dyes too are manufactured from the bark of certain trees like the willow tree. Cricket bats too are made from willow.Trees provide us with beautiful flowers for decorations and fruits for consumption. Trees beautify our landscape. The tall and large trees on either side of our roads and jungles are like guardians protecting our environment. “If not for trees the Earth would be empty and dull, without life.”

Mohammed Irshard Samahoon, Grade 9,Sailan International School,Negombo.

A pigeon talks

Hello! I am a white pigeon. I am the sign of peace. I carry a twig of olive in my beak as the sign of peace. I live all over the world. I live in a dove cot, but some of my friends live in jungles.

I have lots of friends; they are all the other pigeons.My favourite food is seeds.In ancient times people used me to communicate. Then I carried messages from one person to another. When I was in Noah’s Ark, I was sent to see whether the flood had receded.Thank you for listening to my speech.

Anil Pandithakoralege, Class 4-S4,St. Peter’s College,Colombo 4.

Environmental pollution

Environmental pollution is one of the burning problems in the world today. Due to the irresponsible activities of many human beings, our environment is greatly polluted, causing drastic climatic changes and also serious health problems.

The environment is polluted in many ways. For example,the factories in cities emit large volumes of chemical-laced smoke. Motor vehicles too emit smoke. In fact, there are lots of belching vehicles not only in the cities, but also in rural areas.

Those who breathe this smoke are subject to many kinds of ailments such as heart attacks, chest pains, asthma, TB and breathing problems. We burn garbage in public places polluting the air and also throw it everywhere. This pollutes the environment greatly.

Factory wastes are allowed to enter the rivers, seas, ponds, tanks and other water bodies. Sometimes since toilet pits are situated near such bodies of water they are polluted greatly. Those who drink this polluted water contract diseases like diarrhoea.

People should avoid doing these things that harm the environment.

Garbage should be buried and toilet pits shouldn't be put up close to bodies of water. Factories and vehicles should be designed in such a way that they don't emit large volumes of some to pollute the air. If these things are strictly practised, we can avoid environmental pollution to a large extent.

S.L. Roshan, Kalmunai.

Friendship is forever

She is the soft coast
I'm the gentle wave
She is the fresh breeze
I'm the perfumed scent
She is a tiny star
I'm the full moon
Making her world beautiful
I'm with her forever and ever

Our friendship is a ring
It has no end
It is really a sweet flower
Just like true love
She is my best friend
And the friend in need
She is my best friend
That god has sent

If I make a big ship
Or get the kingship
My friend and the friendship
Will never, never slip....

Hiroshani Manushika Udumalagala, Grade 11, Janadipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Galle.