Unsuitable websites:

Bar access to children

by Ananda Kannangara

The Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Ministry recently focused special attention towards the school-going younger generation,

who use the Internet and mobile phones for unsuitable purposes.

Minister Sumeda G. Jayasena told the Junior Observer that the Internet facilities on their home computers or on mobile phones should be used by children only to improve their educational activities and not for any other purposes.

“But, many children today are in the habit of using these vital devices for the wrong purposes and ultimately destroying their minds,” she said.

Minister Jayasena also said it is the sole duty of elders, especially parents of school-going children and their teachers to take precautionary measures to keep children away from using the Internet and mobile phones for such purposes.

“The parents or any other elders at home must keep a close tab on their children when using the Internet, since they could easily access pornography sites while going through educational subjects, she pointed out.

She highlighted that the Internet which is widely used all over the globe is vital for young children who study various subjects including technology, Science, English and Nature. The Minister also urged elders to educate the younger generation on the negative effects of using the Internet for the wrong purposes.Minister Jayasena said she had already contacted the mobile phone service provides regarding this matter and urged them to restrict children from using inappropriate websites on the Internet, considering that they are the future leaders of the country.

“The Government or any other officials cannot do this alone.It is the paramount duty of every citizen of this country to fight against this menace and protect the child population in the country from exposure to such things,” she added.

Yesterday was Prophet Muhammad’s birthday

by Ruzaik Farook

Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah (May Peace be upon him) is the founder of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as a messenger and prophet of God, the last and the greatest law-bearer in a series of prophets.

Born in 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca, he was orphaned at a young age and brought up under the care of his uncle, Abu Talib. He later worked mostly as a merchant, as well as a shepherd, and married at age 25. Discontented with life in Mecca, he retreated to a cave in the surrounding mountains for meditation and reflection. According to Islamic beliefs it was here, at age 40, in the month of Ramadan, that he received his first revelation from God. Three years after this event Muhammad (May peace be upon him) started preaching these revelations publicly.

Muhammad (May peace be upon him) gained few followers and was met with hostility from some Meccan tribes; he and his followers were treated harshly.

To escape persecution Muhammad (May Peace be upon him) and his followers migrated to Medina (then known as Yathrib) in the year 622 CE. This event, the Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad (May peace be upon him) united the conflicting tribes, and after eight years of fighting with the Maccan tribes, his followers, who by then had grown to ten thousand, conquered Mecca without bloodshed.

Farewell pilgrimage and death

At the end of the tenth year after the migration to Medina, Muhammad (May Peace be upon him) carried through his first truly Islamic pilgrimage, thereby teaching his followers the rights of the annual Great Pilgrimage (Hajj).

After completing the pilgrimage, Muhammad (May Peace be upon him) delivered a famous speech known as The Farewell Sermon. In this sermon, Muhammad (May Peace be upon him) advised his followers not to follow certain pre-Islamic customs such as adding intercalary months to align the lunar calendar with the solar calendar. Muhammad (May Peace be upon him) abolished all old blood feuds and disputes based on the former tribal system and asked for all old pledges to be returned as implications of the creation of the new Islamic community.

He also upheld the sacredness of four lunar months in each year.

According to Sunni tafsir, the following Qur’anic verse was delivered in this incident: “Today I have perfected your religion, and completed my favours for you and chosen Islam as a religion for you”. (Qur’an 5:3)

A few months after the farewell pilgrimage, Muhammad (May peace be upon him) fell ill and suffered for several days with head pain and weakness. He passed away on June 8, 632, in Medina. He was buried where he passed away which was in his wife Aisha’s house and is now housed within the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina.

By the time of his death most of the Arabian Peninsula had converted to Islam and he united the tribes of Arabia into a single Muslim religious polity.

May Allah Bless Our Beloved Prophet Rasoole Kareem Muhammed Sallahialahiwasallim.

Mother Sri Lanka! Programme

Winners of the Western Province

The Provincial Final Competition of the Western Province of the Mother Sri Lanka Schools Programme which encourages children to think “Country First” through various activities was held on January 18, 2010 at the Devi Balika School Auditorium, Colombo, and the award ceremony was held on January 20 at the D.S. Senanayake College Auditorium in the distinguished presence of Most Rev. Dr. Malcolm Ranjith.

The competition was conducted among all Grade 1A, 1B and 1C schools in Sinhala and Tamil medium in the Western Province as well as among the Private and International schools in the province. A total of 326 schools (85 per cent of the total number of schools in the province) participated in the first preliminary round which was held at the education division level. Of these, 16 schools were selected to enter the finals along with the winner among the Private Schools and the winner of the International schools competition.

The following schools emerged winners and these provincial winners will be entitled to enter the All Island Final which will be held in Colombo in 2010 after completion of all province finals.

Western Province winners - Sinhala medium:

1st place: Kalutara National College

2nd place: Bandaranaike Maha Vidyalaya

3rd place: Morapitiya Veediya Bandara Maha Vidyalaya.

Tamil Medium:

1st place: Bambalapitiya Hindu College

International School winners: Colombo International College.