Winner:

The teeth plays an important role in the digestive process. Healthy teeth helps us to stay healthy. When we eat something, it's the teeth that helps us to bite and chew the food. If we do not have teeth, we cannot bite and chew our food. Therefore, it will not get digested properly. So it is important to keep our teeth healthy. Bad teeth gives a bad appearance to the face. A good set of teeth makes the smile attractive. When bad teeth are extracted, the face becomes hollow and this makes us look very ugly.

We should protect our teeth by taking good care of them. Eating too many sweets is very harmful for the teeth. After eating sweets we must brush our teeth. We should not bite very hard food items because it could damage our teeth. We should brush our teeth in the mornings and at nights.

If we do not clean our teeth, food particles in the mouth may turn into acid and decay the teeth. The bacteria attacks the enamel and we get toothaches. It's better to avoid sweets after meals.

If we do not brush or wash our teeth after taking food, the bacteria gets collected in between the teeth and start to decay and damage the teeth. So brush your teeth everyday to keep them healthy.

Mohammed Haazeeb,

Grade 10,

Al-Mannar International

School,

Dematagoda.

Mother

Winner:

I see you with my eyes

I touch you with my hands

Then I realize that you'r near me

Mother

You always mean the world to me

You guide me on the correct path

Then I realise that you'r near me

Mother

You show me the right and wrong

You make me happy all the time

Then I realise that you'r near me

Mother

You become the strength to me

On my life journey

Then I realise that you'r near me

Mother

Your love, guidance and protection

Makes me a bright star throughout the night

Then I realise that you'r near me

Mother

Melinda de Silva,

Grade 11,

HCC,

Gampaha.

Good Manners

Winner:

Have you ever heard or thought about good manners? Have you heard an English saying "Manners maketh a man". We should never talk bad words nor call others bad names.We must learn to think twice before we talk. Bad words should not be uttered; they make bad children. We must never talk to elders rudely. When we talk to a gentleman we should learn to say "Sir" and when we talk to a lady we must say "Madam". Do you ever think of the bad that you've done at school? Sometimes you may or may not remember. If your teacher says something and if you didn't hear the teacher you should not ask "What?" "What did you say?" and so on. You should say "I beg your pardon," Sir or "I beg your pardon, madam." When the teacher talks to you or ask any question you should always stand up, and answer it. It is very rude to be seated while your teacher or an elder talks to you. We must always stand up to show our respect to them. When we ask for something from someone we must not say "Give me this." We must use the word "please". When we get anything done by someone we must thank that person by saying "Thank you." Otherwise you should say "No, thank you."You should never be angry with any of your family members even though you may get into an argument.

Always help your parents as much as you can. Be kind to everyone. And when our parents talk with someone we must not disturb them. When you are on the street do not be rude to anyone. If a person ask you the way, help him or her. If a beggar ask for some food or money give him if you have. If you don't have anything to give him then tell him politely that you dont have.While walking along the street, if you knock against someone you should say, "I am sorry". I hope all of you who reads this essay will learn to be good citizens of Sri Lanka.

S. Krishnie Gayathri,

Grade 6,Cambridge International School,

Chilaw.

Beggar menace

Winner:

Hundreds of beggars, both young and old, can be seen in our cities like Colombo, Negombo, Kandy and Kurunegala. Thousands of other beggars go from house to house in some areas.

They go begging as they do not have any means of living and also as they do not have homes on their own. This situation has aggravated due to various factors like poverty, parental death and illness, loss of parental love and affection. The number of beggars are increasing day by day.

Most of the beggars are not disabled. Most of them are able bodied. They can earn money by doing some sort of work but they beg because, they are lazy. They think that begging is the easiest way of living.

Sometimes beggars become a nuisance to tourists. They pester till they get something from tourists.Beggars wear ragged clothes. Even children in the age group of 5-10 years can be seen begging. This is a very sad plight.According to the police most of these children who have lost their parental love and affection, become criminals at the end.

During the past few years several camps were established by the government for beggars but due to various reasons they do not live in these camps.

They walk under the scorching sun. They get wet in the rain, but, these do not affect their health. It is the bounden duty of the government to look into this issue and take necessary steps to wipe this out. It can be done by setting up special homes for beggars. The government cannot solve this problem alone. All the social service associations and other voluntary organisations should extend their co-operation to the government in this endeavour. Children who are engaged in begging should be sent to school and taught a trade or vocation. The able bodied must be provided with some sort of employment and laws should be passed to ban begging.

Madusha Rashmi Perera,

13 Arts,

Newstead Girls' College,

Negombo.

When will you come my dad?

Winner:

When I was walking

on the road

I saw a father,

Kissed his daughter

I also kissed my father

in my thoughts

Oh! don't fall

my dear tear

I'm sure he will come.

When I go to bed

I laugh with my dad

And run with him everywhere

I'm not afraid of anything

Because he is with me

But mind says it's not the truth,

Oh! Don't fall my dear tear

It's only a dream.

Lelani Kandegamage,

Grade 10-A,Hemamali Girls'

College, Kandy.