Resettlement of IDPs

Winner:

IDP stands for Internally Displaced Persons. According to statistics, there are upto 25 million IDPs in the world.

After the end of the 30 year civil war, Sri Lanka too is facing this problem in a big way. After the war hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans ended up in IDP camps in the northern part of Sri Lanka. They are in dire need of a quality life with shortages of food, shelter and so on.

The Government of Sri Lanka has taken all measures to solve this problem which is no easy task due to the large numbers of IDPs. In order to eradicate this problem, the areas that have been ravaged by the war have to be reconstructed as soon as possible. But, lots of funds and assistance are needed to do so.

It is also an urgent need to establish psychological rehabilitation cantres because many of the IDPs probably suffer from the effects of the war and other problems due to the inability to live a normal life. Such centres will be a great helping hand to console them and make them mentally strong.After providing all the necessary basic needs the authorities should take steps to employ them so that they earn a living on their own and also participate in the development process of the country.Special facilities should also be given to differently-abled persons.

Special attention should be paid to IDP children. They should be reunited with their families and helped to reintegrate into their communities through basic skills training and income generating activities.

However, as this is a huge task all NGOs, relevant UN affiliated bodies and other developed countries in the world should take necessary steps to provide essential food, financial aid and also technical assistance to Sri Lanka. We cannot solve this problem alone. Countries which are suffering from this burning IDP problem should all work with each other and aid organisations.

Hasini Neelika Kithulgoda,

Grade 11,Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matara.

Caring for elders

Winner:

Who are elders? They are the elderly people many of whom are now dependent on others for their day-to-day living. In our society there are many rich and poor elders who are in need of assistance to do various things. Many aged people are not with their families, because today most children cannot look after their elderly parents.

In Sri Lanka there are homes for elders maintained by the State, private institutions and religious organisations. In private institutions a fee is levied for the upkeep of the elders. Other institutions depend on charitable donations.

The feeble and sick have to be looked after with compassion, love and kindness. There are elders who need medical care very often. There are also elders who are paralysed and bed-ridden. They cannot do anything for themselves. Special care should be given to them to make them feel that they are not unwanted people. Many people in elders' homes are unhappy because they feel they have been abandoned by their families.

When my parents come to a stage where they can no longer do anything physically and financially for themselves, it is my bounden duty to look after them with love and care. Their welfare becomes my responsibility then.

Parents who have children but are neglected by them due to various reasons, sometimes end up as beggars on the streets or in homes, feeling miserable. Neglecting one's parents when they are old and feeble is something immoral. We as children should learn to respect our elders and take good care of them.

Aravindi Shermila Perera,

Grade 10,Sailan International School,

Negombo.

Adults must guide children

Winner:

October 1 is declared as Children's Day in our country. The principal idea behind this is to focus on the value of children for a country and provide them all the necessary basic facilities to become successive adults in the future.

The famous Russian Leader Lenin once said, "All good things should be given to children." What a sensible idea it was. He loved children. I also respect President Mahinda Rajapaksa because he also has a great love for children. He too provides ample support for the protection and welfare of children.

The Buddha has mentioned in one of His `Suttas' the duties of parents. It says that if parents fulfil their duties, children would always behave well and become worthy citizens of their Motherland.

Many blame the Government for not providing enough facilities for child development. The country or every government provides adequate facilities to make children happy and productive. But most often some parents, especially the poor, don't carry out their part of duties and responsibilities properly. This leads poor children to behave in a wrong manner and become a burden to society and the country. The fault does not lie with such innocent children who have become corrupted by society. Sometimes teachers who strive to make such children productive are also helpless. There is a saying `Nip it in the bud'. The child associates his parents until he is five years old and the family is his first `Society'. He should be guided properly within that five year period, then only the teacher's task becomes easy.

Therefore, I urge all parents on this Children's Day to fulfil their duties diligently and intelligently and send well mannered and well-behaved children out into society. Then the world would be a peaceful and safe place to live in. Let us try to be priceless children of our Motherland.

K. H. B. Saumya Kumari Herath,

Grade 10,

Samudra Devi Balika Vidyalaya

Nugegoda.
 

Let's strive to be good children

Winner:

The child is said to be the Father of man. Good children are loved by everybody. Therefore, every child wants to be good.

One of the main tasks a child has to do in his childhood is to study well. So, a child must learn well and fulfil his task. A good education supports a child to lead a successful life in society.

In addition to this school education, engaging in extra-curricular activities will also help a child become a productive person giving him plenty of experiences.

A child should cultivate good qualities like kindness, patience, honesty, obedience and respect for elders. These good qualities will definitely pave the way to his success one day.

A child should also practise good health habits, such as washing the hands before and after having meals, wearing clean clothes and brushing the teeth twice a day, as health is wealth. A child should not only have good physical health, but also mental health to live a good life.

Disciplined and well brought up children are good in most fields and are a gift to society and the nation. In fact, they are a blessing. Such children will definitely play an important role in building a good world. So, on this Children's Day let's all strive to be good and build a good world.

K. Prabodha Dilshani,

Kuli/Central College.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

Winner:

When you see a stone covered with moss, you know that it must have been there for years. A stone that is moved about cannot gather moss on it. Gathering of moss takes time. The stone should be kept at rest in a steady place for moss to gather on it. Therefore, what does the proverb "A rolling stone gathers no moss" mean?

Here, the "rolling stone" means a fickle, inconstant, changeable person. A person who never settles down to anything for long and keeps changing his attempts as well as his way of life is a "rolling stone". The proverb explains that such a person gains very little in life.

To achieve success or get on in some business, a person must choose a fixed path and stick to it. He will never succeed if he keeps changing his path all the time. To reach a higher post in his line of work he must stick to his job, so as to become a scholar, he must specialise in one subject. In order to reach academic heights, he must study well.

It is of no use changing from one field of study to another. If you do so, you will only know a little of everything, but not all of anything. You will not be able to succeed in any path this way, so, don't be a rolling stone in life.Taking this proverb to mind, if we work well in a certain path, it will help all of us to lead an advantageous, profitable, worthy life and achieve success.

Rashmi Erandika Rathnayake,

Grade 9-E,Pushpadana Girls' College,Kandy.