Value of public libraries

“Reading maketh a full man”. This is a very valuable statement. There are so many books published in the world, but no one can afford to buy more than a few books at a time. So, educated people who knew the value of books and loved mankind, built libraries for them to read these books.

Libraries are places anybody can go to and read books. Not only can people read books at these places, they could also borrow books to read and return.

There are several sections in libraries, containing books on science, arts, dancing, history, music, literature and so on. These libraries are very helpful to children as well as adults to develop their knowledge.

By reading we can gather knowledge of many things and people of the world.

Education starts from our birth and continues to develop throughout life. A library is one of the important places through which you can improve your knowledge.

Ganguli Mendis, Grade 8-A, St. Paul’s Girls’ School, Milagiriya.
 

What is good health?

World Health Day was held on April 7. Do you know what a healthy life means? It means the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of a person. How can you be physically healthy? In order to be physically healthy we must have the correct weight and height according to our age and gender.

That is called Body Mass Index, or BMI. We must also eat nutritious food in a balanced diet. We have to include grains, fish, meat, green vegetables and fruits in our meals.We must lead an active life, doing exercises and sports such as swimming, athletics, badminton, gymnastics and dancing.

In addition to that, we must also get a good night’s sleep. As little children, we must live happily and joyfully. Good social interaction with others is also important to maintain mental and social well-beings.

We can play, chat, help and tell stories to our friends, both at school and in our neighbourhoods. We must live in harmony with each other.

Spiritually too we need to develop. We can be very religious, have good thoughts and do kind deeds for others.We must lead a healthy life in order to have a good future.

Bhagya Pandithakoralege, St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo 7.

Birthday wishes to JBV!

On January 17, she celebrated her second birthday which fell a few days earlier. Although she is just two years old, she behaves like a well matured person, and everybody is attracted to her because of her beauty. For the last two years she has made a big revolution in all spheres.

When we look back at her birth, we can see that a son of the soil, the founder member of the ‘Siddhalepa Group’, together with Project Sri Lanka, paved the way for her delivery. She was born on January 4, 2007. This beautiful child was handed over to a worldly mother to be brought up.With great expectations she was named as Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya(JBW).

She is beautiful like an angel, clean like a lotus and pure in thoughts, words and deeds. She is well guided and managed. She has already caught the attention of everybody in the Southern Province.

Because of her graceful behaviour, everybody around her wanted to celebrate her second birthday in a grand manner.

So, on January 17, she was dressed like an angel, to get the blessings of the Triple Gem, an all night Pirith chanting ceremony was held. The following day alms were given to 50 Bhikkhus.

On this most historical day, she received the Bhikkhus with great respect. The Perahera that accompanied the Bhikkhus comprising beautiful dancers and colourful lights was really a grand spectacle.

The alms-giving the next day reminded us of an old dansala. Everybody who visited her was given a really delicious meal. By seeing her beauty and graceful behaviour, most of the people who visited her brought valuable gifts for her.

She has a vision and a mission. Her vision is to make future female leaders for the 21st century and beyond that.

I am so thrilled to see this graceful child. So, let me wish Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya success in the future.

Chathuri Savindya, Grade 11 - D, Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya,Galle.

My trip to Disneyland

I had an opportunity to visit Disneyland during my school vacation with my family. We got free tickets to enter. We went there from California. It was a half an hour drive. When we entered Disneyland, the first thing we went to see was the Aladdin Orchestra.

We had to wait two hours in the queue. It was a very beautiful orchestra. Although we were hungry, before we ate we went on a star war’s ride. The spaceship was in one place, but moving; and we felt that it was going very fast too.

We had our lunch only after the ride. Later on we went on a ride in a steam engined train to the different stations of Disneyland.

We got off at a station and from there had a car ride. We were issued with Disneyland licences here. My sister drove one car with my mother by her side and I drove another car with my father by my side.After that we went on a rollercoaster ride. It went around the mountains and splashed into the water. I thought I was going to die!

Then, we went on a submarine ride called `Finding Nemo’. Next, we entered the section called, the Pirates of the Carribean ship. From there we went to another station.

My father thought that the track this train went on was the same as the earlier one we took, but it was a mistake. He had taken the ride called `Thunderbird’ which was one of the fastest rides.

I was so scared. I screamed so much that I thought my heart would come out. We finally found our way to the exit and went home safely. It was a very exciting and a memorable experience for me.

Charana Cumaranatunga, Grade 7, Stafford International School,Colombo 7.

A strange world

What a strange world
if rabbits could fly
and snakes could hop
if monkeys have houses
and donkeys have denses.

If lions eat grass
rabbits eat meat
if crocodiles could fly and
elephants could swim.

Trees could walk and
if I could walk along
a bridge to the moon.

If snow falls in mid afternoon
Oh! what a funny thing it would be!

D. K. Charitha Nayana Shantha, Grade 8-B, Kg/Bamunugama Maliyadeva K.V., Dewalegama.