What is Poppy Day?

When the First World War finally ended after four long years of fighting, on November 11, 1918. The guns stopped on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Subsequently November 11 was chosen back in 1919 as the special day each year to think about and remember the millions of people who had died. in the war. To this day, , at 11am on November 11 many people across Britain stay silent for two minutes to think about those who died.

At first, November 11 was known as Armistice Day because 'armistice' is the word used for an agreement between enemies to stop fighting. These days it is more usually called Remembrance Day or Poppy Day So, we know why November 11 is special, but why poppies? The story begins back in 1915, during World War one.

A doctor called John McCrea, who was working to help soldiers in France, wrote a poem in 1915 about the poppies growing on the graves of dead soldiers. The beginning of the poem goes - 'In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row...'.

An American poet called Moina Michael read the beautiful poem. It gave her the idea of using poppies to remember the dead but also to help the living at the same time. Moina bought real poppies and gave them out to friends. She also sold some poppies and gave the money to surviving, needy ex-soldiers.

The first official Poppy Day, organised by a charity called The Royal British Legion, was held in 1921.

Poppies make a very good symbol for remembrance for several reasons. They were the only flower that grew easily on the battlefields after World War One. They're very delicate flowers too, that only live for a short time, which is rather like the young men killed in battle.

The colour is important too - what does the bright red remind you of? Can you see why some people might think that fields of popies look like fields of blood? So - now you know! Those bright red paper flowers are full of history and meaning. They're very special to many, many people.

Two neighbours had been fighting each other for nearly on four decades. Bob buys a Great Dane and teaches it to use the bathroom in Bill's yard. For one whole year Bill ignores the dog.

So Bob then buys a cow and teaches it to use the bathroom in Bill's yard. After about a year and a truck pulls up in front of Bill's house.

Bob runs over and demands to know what's in the 18-wheeler.

'My new pet elephant,' Bill replies solemnly.

November 8

Sir Edmond Halley, astronomer who was the first to calculate a comet's orbit was born in 1656.

Dr Christiaan Barnard who performed the first human heart transplant, was born in 1922.

G.G.Ponnambalam, founder of All-Ceylon Tamil Congress was born in 1901.

John Milton, English poet died in 1674.

November 9

Prof G.P.Malalasekara, a former diplomat and scholar was born in 1899.

Charles De Gaulle, a former president of France(1945-1946),(1958-1969) died in 1970.

Chaim Weizman , first prime minister of Israel died in 1952.

Rowan Atkinson comedian was born in 1956.

November 10

Oliver Goldsmith,Irish writer was born in 1728.

Richard Burton,Welsh actor was born in 1925.

Leonid Brezhnev, a former prime minister of Russia died in 1982.

Prof.Alawaththagoda Premadasa died in 1997.

November 11

Jigme Singye Wangchuk,King of Bhutan was born in 1955.

Pyodor Dostoyevsky, Russian novelist (Karmaso Brothers) was born in 1821.

Deva Suriyasena,Sinhala musician died in 1981.

November 12

Grace Kelly, American actress who became Princess Grace of Monaco was born in 1929.

Baha'Ullah, founder of the Bahai faith was born in 1817.

Ven. Kalukondayawe Pagnasekara Thera passed away in 1977.

November 13

Ven. Udakendawala Siri Saranankara Thera,passed away in 1966.

Rohana Wijeweera, founder leader of the J.V.P. was assassinated in 1989.

Robert Louis Stevenson,Scottish writer was born in 1859.

Victorio de Sica, Italian film director died in 1974.

November 14

Sri Jawaharlal Nehru, a former prime minister of India was born in 1889.

Prince Charles of England was born in 1948.

King Hussein of Jordan was born in 1935.

Ven.Kirielle Gnanawimala Thera was born in 1908.

Ven.Parawahera Pannananda Thera was born in 1910.

November 8

Prof. Wilhelm Konrad Rontgen discovered the X-ray in 1895.

World Town Planning Day was started in 1969.

November 9

Dutch Burgher Union was formed in 1907.

National day of Cambodia,It proclaimed independence from France in 1953.

November 10

LUNAR 17 Russian spacecraft was sent to space in 1970.

The Berlin Wall was demolished in 1989.

November 11

First video recorder was invented in California by John Tulin and Wayne Johnson in 1952.

Angola national day. It proclaimed independence from Portugal in 1975.

World Poppy Day. The same day is known as Armistice or Remembrance Day.

November 12

Austria became a republic in 1918.

Ceylon Standards Bureau was established in 1964.

First Co-operative Society was formed in Wellabadapattuwa in 1912.

Voyager I reached Saturn in 1980.

November 13

Donoughmore Commissioners arrived in Ceylon in 1927.

November 14

World Diabetes Day.

B.B.C.commenced its domestic radio service in 1929.

Apollo 12 spacecraft was launched in 1969.

Compiled by W.A. Rusiru JAYASURIYA

World Diabetes Day is on November 14:

Many children affected by diabetes

by Ananda KANNANGARA

A massive healthcare campaign to create an awareness among school children about diabetes and the need to prevent it has been launched by the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry in collaboration with the Education Department.

According to latest statistics, among 4.3 million school children in the country, nearly 15 per cent in the age group of eight to sixteen are currently suffering from diabetes.

It has been revealed that neglecting sports activities and lack of regular exercises are contributory factors for school children becoming diabetic patients.

Speaking to Junior Observer, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that steps have already been taken to educate school children about the danger of diabetes and also the precautionary measures that have to be taken by them, to avoid becoming diabetic patients.

The Minister also said his Ministry has commenced special health care programmes at Northern welfare camps for the benefit of IDP children and deployed over 400 medical staffers, including doctors and nurses to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and also other diseases such as diabetes.

Speaking further on diabetes among school children, the Minister said his Ministry had started a project with the World Diabetic Foundation to help diabetic patients and also to prevent more people from falling victims to the disease.According to a recent scientific research, school children are also suffering from blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, complications which could lead to diabetes, heart attacks, strokes and also kidney damages.

The research also indicates that school children are not engaged in regular exercises since many of them are addicted to television programmes, computers and various other social activities.It is said that children would not suffer from diabetes, if they refrained from eating junk food, Genetically Modified foods and various kinds of sweet drinks.

Award winners at UN Day observances

by Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The annual UN Day observance organised by the United Nations Association Sri Lanka (UNASL) was held at the Royal College in Colombo on Saturday, October 24.

Hirantha Imesh De Silva of Kingswood College, Kandy won the Best Speaker's award at the Best speaker Contest while D. G. Dinusha Nilakshi of Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela and Oshadhi Wickramasinghe of St. Joseph's College, Kegalle won second and third places respectively.Meanwhile H. A. Vinod Dilshan Hewathanthri of St. John's College, Panadura won first place in General Knowledge at the UN contest. Second and third places were won by R. M. Inoka Sandamali of Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela and I. L. Samarasinghe of St. Thomas College, Matale respectively.

The best UNA Study Circle for the year 2008 was St. Thomas College, Matale. Christ Church College, Matale, Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya, Mirahawatta Bandaragama, Daraluwa Maha Vidyalaya, Daraluwa and Halpathota Junior School, Baddegama won second to fifth places respectively.The winners received their awards from the Chief Guest, Judge Christopher Weeramantri, UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne and UNA Sri Lanka Chairperson, Rohini Nanayakkara at the event.

From guns to books

The hands that were once being trained to pull the trigger of a gun, release the pin of a handgrenade and detonate bombs are now eagerly thumbing through the pages of text books at school....Recruited by the LTTE as child soldiers, either by force or through coercion, these children who were being trained to destroy the enemy now stand at the portals of education - totally rehabilitated and ready to be absorbed into the mainstream of life.The golden opportunity of enjoying their basic rights; an education and the joys of childhood, have been given to a batch of 144 ex-child soldiers rehabilitated by the State at the Punthottam Child Protection and Rehabilitation Centre, Vavuniya.

With their guns being replaced by satchels, they are now free to enjoy the fruits of life and live happy, carefree lives as normal children. Even though the wounds in their young minds may take some time to heal, having being exposed to nothing but the atrocities of war their entire lives, these children are now standing on the threshold of a new life.

However, there is only so much the State could do to give them a new lease of life; rehabilitate them and send them to school. The rest is up to us. In order for them to enjoy the rest of their childhood and grow up as disciplined, responsible citizens, society must be ready to understand and support them. What they now need, above all, is acceptance, especially by children like you. Being in the same wavelength as them, you can help replace the fear and apprehension in their eyes with a twinkle and also bring a smile to their sad faces.

Many more ex-child soldiers are waiting to be given a new lease of life. You can extend a helping hand for them to cross the border, not just physically, but mentally too, from the battle zone to a life of peace.