Treasure grandparents

Winner:

Grandparents are truly a treasure to have, for they shower so much love on their families that one just cannot imagine life without them.

It is true when people say that it is only the lucky ones who have grandparents, because, they tell wonderful stories about their youth, how things used to be, and what has changed over the years.

They are able to tell us how to cope with difficulties too because of their experience. They have seen it all and gone through all the ups and downs in life. So, they are wiser than us.

We must treat them with love, care and respect and look after them properly, now that they have grown old. When all the family members get together to celebrate occasions, the centre of attraction generally are our grandparents, because they head the family and are our elders.

Even though life has become hectic and fast-paced, so much so that no one has time for others, we must not neglect them.

We must take a little time off from our busy schedules to say a kind word, give a small gift, take them for a drive or an outing in order to make our grandparents feel loved and needed. We need to show them how special they are to us.

Fathima Sabra Hunais,

Grade 11E,

Girls' High School,

Kandy.

My favourite book

Winner:

I enjoy reading books. Whenever I come across a good book, I never fail to read it. I like to read novels. I have read scores of novels and Madol Doowa written by Martin Wickramasinghe is the book I like the most.

The book was first published several years ago and it has been re-printed many times for sale. It is sold like hot cakes. It has been translated into several languages of the world. The style is lucid, simple and natural. Every new chapter is more interesting than the preceding one.

I got it as a birthday present from my uncle and it is my most precious treasure. I read it over and over again. Upali is the main character of this book. He lost his mother when he was only seven years old and his father married again. There is a servant boy called Jinna with whom Upali plays. They are friends.

Every evening Upali is beaten by his father because he's always doing something wrong. But Upali is boarded for a while.

After some months Upali returns home. The story becomes exciting after he runs away at midnight with Jinna.

Such books are the life-blood of a nation. Books are not only good companions, but are also wonderful playmates for the young. They are a gateway into the world of adventure, fun and wonder. Reading good books helps develop thinking which in turn should be co-ordinated with actions.Remember the famous lines of Sir Francis Bacon while reading books.

"Reading maketh a full man"

H.A. Roshani Kannangara,

Grade 9A,

Convent of Our Lady of

Victories, Moratuwa.

Your poems

Hunger!

Winner:

A woman sifts through the dirt

on the roadside

Searching

for grains of rice

to cook,

While a child

holds out his hand

and asks, no begs

for a coin or two

to appease his hunger......

This is but a few, among the millions

who go to sleep in hunger

each night

day after day,

Dear friends,

let us not waste

the food which we have

while thousands are dying

for the want of a morsel,

to eat!

Nillasi Liyanage,

Grade 10F,Musaeus College,Colombo 7.

My pet dog

My pet's name is Rexy. I brought it home from my friend's place when it was just six months old. Now it is six-years-old.

My pet likes to eat mostly rice and fish. My mother bathes Rex twice a week. She too loves my pet very much. If it is not well she takes it for treatment to the vet. We have made a special cage for Rex. During day time it stays in its cage.

My pet is very kind to all of us. It guards our house very carefully both day and night. Whenever new visitors come to our home, it barks at them. Everyone in our home loves my pet Rex very much.

K. Suresh Menon,

Grade 5,Oregan International College,

Rakwana.

Importance of early rising

Winner:

Early rising is a good habit. The great advantage of early rising is that one gets a good start to the day's work. The early riser can do a large amount of work, compared with those who rise much later in the day.

In the early morning, the mind is fresh and there aren't much noises or other disturbances. So, most of the work done at this time is generally fruitful.

An early riser has plenty of time to do the work which is expected of him for that day. This can bring great satisfaction.

Early rising is beneficial to one's health too.

One can always get a breath of fresh air before the air is polluted by vehicles and factory emissions.

Late risers put their health at risk by working late into the nights to complete their workload for the day.It is evident that early rising is very useful for students and workers.

There is a famous saying we need to remember, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise".

Gihan Ranasinghe,

Grade 6,

Negombo South International School, Nittambuwa.

I'm honoured to be a prefect

Winner:

The Prefect's Day of Ranpokunagama Maha Vidyalaya was held last week and I was appointed a prefect by the Board of Prefects of my school.

I consider it a great honour to be a prefect of my school. I have made a promise to be loyal to my school, my teachers and my fellow students, at all times, and to do everything I can to bring honour to all of them, while performing my duties as a prefect.

I will be truthful and pure in thought, word and deed and strive to uphold the rules of the school. I will also help my friends whenever they seek my assistance. As a prefect I have made a firm commitment to serve my school well.

K.W.D. Tharindu Danushka,

Grade 10,

Ranpokunagama MV,

Nittambuwa.

A visit to Temple Trees

Our English Dhamma School organised a trip to the Temple Trees in Colombo recently. The students, teachers and some parents too came on this trip. We travelled in three buses. After being thoroughly checked by the security officers, we were permitted to enter the garden of the President's House. We were given an explanation as to why the President's house is called 'Temple Trees.'

After some time the President's son came and spoke to us. While we were relaxing, the President himself came and greeted us and spoke to us. He was glad that we were studying in an English Dhamma school. A picture of the President which was drawn by one of the students was presented to him. The President thanked the student and sat with us for a photograph. We were given lunch and we returned soon after it.

It was an unforgettable day in my life. I was very happy and I think I am very lucky to have to met and spoken to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has made the country a free land for young children like us to grow up in.

Sathsarani Yashodara Gamage,

Grade 6C,

Maliyadeva Girls' College,

Kurunegala.

My hobby

My hobby is reading. It's a very popular hobby. I read story books, magazines and newspapers.

I have a good collection of books at home. My father and mother help me to find good books. I borrow books from our school library too.

It is said that "Reading maketh a full man". We can learn many things from books. I spend much of my time reading. The more you read, the more you learn.

S. Tharushi Sanjana Perera,

Grade 6-A,

Central College, Maharagama.

Downfall of the LTTE

The LTTE is an organisation of bad people who killed innocent human beings to achieve their goal. They wanted to make Jaffna and many other areas another kingdom for them. Because of these terrorists the people of this country were sad and frightened. Many children lost their parents because of them.

There was a great war between the LTTE and the Sri Lanka Army. The war went on for many years. Many soldiers and people lost their lives because of it.

The army tried their level best to destroys the LTTE over the years. Then finally after nearly thirty years, we gained freedom from the LTTE on May 15 this year.

Everybody was happy. Everywhere in the island people hoisted Sri Lankan flags, in their homes, on vehicles, shops and other public places. People in other countries too stepped in to help the poor and homeless war refugees. After we gained peace and freedom, everybody is now happy. If we get together, there's nothing we can't do.

Vishvi Wijetunge,

Year 3,Lyceum International,

Wattala.