Trees also live like us

Winner:

Do you know that trees are also alive? If you don't believe it just consider these facts.

As we know humans need water, food and air to live. We also need a place to stay. Don't trees too need all these? When it rains trees get the water they need to grow. They absorb carbon dioxide and prepare their own food, giving out oxygen to the environment.

The soil or the earth is the house in which trees live. So trees somehow obtain what they need just like humans do. The difference between trees and humans is that humans can walk and talk but trees cannot. Also, trees can produce their own food but humans depend on other sources for food.

Have you observed how a tree reacts when it does not get water properly? The tree withers just like a human suffers without water.

When a tree is alive the leaves are fresh and green or some other bright colour. When it is dead the leaves are brown and dry.

When one cuts down a tree it groans. Have you heard it cry out when it comes crashing down?

So friends, just as we protect ourselves we must protect trees too because trees not only live like humans do, but they also help us live.

W. Anne Sachini Thaushika Fernando,

Grade 9B,

Holy Family Convent,

Kalutara.

How appropriate is World Women's Day?

Winner:

As the World Women's Day was celebrated on March 8 the role of women was given much attention in society. Many functions and conferences were held all over the world appreciating women and their services to society because it was World Women's Day.

There is no point in appreciating women and talking about their service only on this day. We must change this attitude and also the kind of celebrations on this day.

We must give this day a whole new meaning. The services of women should be appreciated everyday and women must be respected throughout their lifetime.

What we have to focus on is whether Sri Lankan women are respected in society and whether they enjoy rights.

In most countries, especially in the west, women are respected and considered equal to men. But in Sri Lanka the situation is somewhat different due to cultural attitudes. Most Sri Lankans believe that women are the weaker gender and they must be under male domination. Because of this view, many men do not allow women to achieve their goals at work or in society. Sexual harassment does exist. Women are also not respected and given their due place in society.

Most women in Sri Lanka are treated as 'domestic slaves' and are expected to work like machines when taking care of household chores and families. Some women do not have any right to make decisions.

It is time to change this attitude not only in just a segment of society but as a whole. Society must appreciate her services, respect her and consider her equal to a male by giving her the same rights throughout her life.

M. Thilini Dassanayake,

Visakha Vidyalaya,

Colombo.

My school

My school is Prince of Wales College. It is in Moratuwa. A river flows behind the school. There are classes from 1 to 13. There are many teachers also. My class teacher is Somasiri. He is from Kalutara. My English teacher is Miss Samadhi. She is from Ratmalana. The Principal is Rohana Karunarathna and the Vice principal is Sampath Weragoda. There are many students in my school. I love my school very much.

K.D. Punsara Ridma Jayawardana,

Grade 5A,

Prince of Wales College,

Moratuwa.

What I have learnt at school

I am very proud to be a student of St. Lawrence's Convent, Colombo 6. It is a girls' convent and a semi government school.

In my school there are Sinhala and Muslim students and so we have an opportunity to make friends with students from another community too.

My school provides me a good education.The teachers help the students a lot to do well in studies.

There is a large playground and all the students enjoy playing cricket, badminton and netball.

This gives us an opportnity to develop our sport activities.

Friendship, loyalty and team spirit are values I have learnt at school.

I like my school very much.

L.R.D.C. Menoli,

Grade 7b,

St. Lawrence's Convent, Colombo 6.

Who is more cruel?

Winner:

Many life forms are a part of Mother Nature.

There are animals, trees, birds and humans living together, sharing everything provided by nature.

Mother Nature generally causes no harm to human beings, but humans trouble Mother Nature and other forms of life in many ways.

Therefore, I believe that man is more cruel than nature or animals. Man causes a lot of harm to Mother Nature by cutting down trees, hunting animals, clearing the jungles and polluting the environment.

Trees give timber, medicine, oxygen and shelter. But people cut down trees. It's very harmful to nature.

All animals live in the jungle. It is their home. People clear the jungles and destroy their habitats. Then animals come into the villages and trouble the villagers. Animals are a part of nature. But people kill them. Therefore, man is cruel.

People do a lot of harm to the environment too. They cause sound, air, water and soil pollution. Considering all these facts, I think man is more cruel than Mother Nature or any other animal on Earth.

Dinithi Nayomi Malwatta,

Grade 11B,

Samudra Devi Balika Vidyalaya.

An excursion

Winner:

February 6 was a great day because it was our annual Cub Scout excursion. We had four places to visit.

They were the carpentry workshop at Moratuwa, the Air Museum at Ratmalana Airforce base, the Fire brigade at Maradana and Lake House.

Accompanied by our unit leader Mrs. Watsala Wijewickrama, the senior cubs visited these four places after leaving college around 7.30 am.

At the carpentry workshop we saw how furniture was made using modern and old equipment.

At the Air Museum we saw many war planes, used during World War II and planes used recently in the war against the LTTE.

After visiting the Fire Brigade we learnt how they prepare for an emergency and what is used to douse a fire. Our last destination was Lake House.

We were shown how the newspapers were being printed at the press using colours and also how the news and other articles were edited for publication.

The day ended with a group photograph being taken in front of Lake House, the largest newspaper printers and publishers in Sri Lanka.

It was a fun-filled learning process.

Thenuka Indrakumar,

16th Colombo Cub pack,

S. Thomas' College,

Mt. Lavinia.

My school principal

Winner:

Mrs. Billy is the principal of our school. She is an American. She is very kind. When she talks to us her eyes seem to glitter.

She has a smiling face. She wears spectacles. She is always dressed in Indian salwars and is very active. She moves swiftly around the school.

She looks graceful. Mrs. Billy is not a big made person.

Sometimes she checks our school books and shows us how to correct our mistakes.

When she addresses us at assembly, she always does so with a smile and inspires us. When she speaks to us she always uses words and makes us feel that she is one of our friends. Being with her and talking with her gives us joy. I like her a lot.

M. Kavindu Sandhishka,

Grade 4B,

Royal International School,

Kurunegala.

My pets

My pet is a dog. Its name is Niro. It's brown in colour. Niro likes to eat chicken. I also have a pet cat. Its name is Holly. Holly is white in colour. It likes to eat rice and curry. They are very playful. I love Niro and Holly very much.

Ashen Viduranga Perera

Grade 5 - A

Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa.

My country

My country is Sri Lanka. It is the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It is very beautiful.

There are many beautiful waterfalls and mountains. Bambarakanda is the highest waterfall in the country. Piduruthalagala is the highest mountain. Mahinda Rajapaksa is the Executive President of Sri Lanka. There are many communities living in the country. They are Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers. Sri Lanka has two botnical gardens. They are in Haggala and Peradeniya. Let us protect our Motherland. I love Sri Lanka.

K.D. Punsara Ridma Jayawardana

Grade 5 - A,

Prince of Wales College,

Moratuwa.