Effects of deforestation

Winner:

Due to the development of the world today, many forests are being destroyed. In order to meet the needs of the growing population, towns and villages are built. More trees are cut. And deforestation goes on.

The forest is home for many animals. But as a result of deforestation many animals lose their natural habitats. A major problem the animals face is the loss of food. When animals cannot get shelter or food, they eventually die and their kind becomes extinct. Today animals such as blue butterflies, koalas giant pandas, crocodiles, elephants and white tigers are endangered.

It is the same with many species of plants. A variety of herbs used to make medicines and several other plants are threatened with extinction.

The extinction of animals and plants will also affect humans and lead to many problems. Deforestation has a chain reaction and is disadvantageous for humans. So, if deforestation is stopped, it will greatly benefit not only animals and plants, but also humans. When too many trees are cut down, it also affects the climate and changes weather patterns.

Hansika Wansatilake,

Year 9,

Regent International College.

Education, the key to success

Winner:

People say that 'knowledge is power', but most young children do not really understand the depth of this saying. It is because as children they like to paly with their friends and spend time leisurely instead of being engaged in studies.

There is definitely a drawback in doing this. Your childhood can never be recalled even if you wanted to. If this precious period of life is not devoted towards doing the right things to ensure a good future, then children will be in trouble. Proper guidence and a balance amount of play and study is important. If there is a stable foundation, a house built on top of it can resist any form of change. It can adapt to its environment. Likewise, if we as children are taught how to live our lives, we will be stable. Without trying to escape from troubles in life, we'll then learn to face them.

But who or what would lay this foundation for us? Education of course. It would guide us towards the correct path and our future would be successful. If we are not educated, then we will be trapped in a net that is thrown at us by society. Our future will be blurred and unsuccessful if we are not educated.

So, remember it is not just having fun only that is important in life, especially during childhood, but also a good education. While enjoying the school holidays you should acquire new knowledge and refresh your memory as well.

Devmini Perera,

Grade: 11B.

Gateway College, Kandy.

Animals are our friends

Winner:

There has been a link between humans and animals from ancient times. They are a vital part of our environment. They are helpful to us in many ways. We can categorise animals as carnivorous, herbivorous and omnivorous creatures.

The dog is an age-old companion of humans. It guards our house and property and many other things. It is faithful to his master and always obeys him. Birds, butterflies and fishes add beauty to the environment.

We rear some animals as our pets. They are a source of joy and pleasure. Most people depend on animals for food and to get certain work done by them. Unfortunately some of these special animals will disappear from the Earth due to man's careless actions and various other reasons.

Dinosaurs are one of the species of animals that became extinct. It means that we will never see them again. Cheetahs, blue whales, Bengal tigers and turtles are just a few of the endangered species. Hunting, poaching, pollution and the introduction of foreign species are some of the causes for the depletion of animal populations. Extinction also takes place due to certain natural causes.

Therefore, we should take prompt actions to prevent such disasters and to protect animals for our future, because animals are an important part of our eco-system and our survival is inter-dependent.

Fathima Zahara Thaslim,

Grade 5B,

Newstead Girls' College, Negombo.

My favourite author

Winner:

A writer is a person with special talent. Those who write books - authors must have a good sense of imagination and the ability to create new stories.

I like to read books and other reading material such as newspapers and magazines. My ambition is to be a writer in the future. My leisure activities are writing poems and stories. I practise it for my future role as an author. Step by step I aim to improve my writing skills from childhood.

In the history of Sri Lankan literature there are many authors who have written in different languages.

Of them all, my favourite author is Martin Wickremasinghe who was named as the “greatest writer in Sinhala literature.”

He was born in the city of Galle in Koggala which is situated in the southern part of our country. He was a great writer and a well-known person worldwide.

“Please give me a pen and a paper,” was a golden statement made by this famous author. He wrote a number of books related to Sinhala literature and others translated those valuable books into English. Madolduwa, Ape gama, Soma and Gamperaliya are some popular books of his among children and adults. I mostly like Madolduwa because it is a book which is associated with the village and other social problems.

He had a style of writing which attracted many readers. His creativity, positive emotions, simple language and the good messages conveyed through the story impressed readers. The golden name Martin Wickremasinghe and his legacy of books will remain in my memory forever.

The Martin Wickremasinghe Museum located in Koggala has many aretefacts and personal items used by him.

S.N.B.M. Hiruni Amasha Wijesooriya,

Grade 8-P (English Medium),

Tholangamuwa Central College.

Whales - mammals of the sea

A whale is a mammal that lives in the sea. It will die if it is ever brought to land. Its body is streamlined and it has no neck. Its two fins are like two arms and it uses them to move in different directions. It has a small pair of eyes. It breathes air through a hole on the top of its head.

Whales have no hair or fur to protect themselves in the cold but they have a layer of fat under their skin known as blubber, that protects them. Blubber keeps them warm when the water in the sea becomes icy cold.

Whales give birth to their young and feed them on milk, like humans. The blue whale is the biggest and is found in oceans and seas. It weighs almost 150 tonnes and measures about 30 metres in length.

Whales are divided into two groups. Whales make a strange sound when they talk to one another. These sounds have been recorded and studied by scientists.

Nayani Jayasekara,

Grade 2,

Ecole International,

Digana, Kandy.

My holiday in Sri Lanka

My summer vacation started on June 24. I came to Sri Lanka with my parents and my sister from Italy. We stayed with our grandparents in Kandy. It is a beautiful city.

We visited many beautiful and important places in Sri Lanka. Firstly, we visited the Dalada Maligawa and worshipped there. For Buddhists, the Dalada Maligawa is one of the most sacred places.

We also visited the Dehiwala zoo. I was really happy to watch the elephant dance.

When I went shopping I bought some interesting storybooks. I enjoyed watching the birds and butterflies that came to my grandma’s garden. There are many fruit trees in the garden. Grandma cooks tasty food. I enjoyed playing games with my cousins. I also did my studies when I had free time.

I like to watch the sunset in the evening, to go to the beach and also watch the fishing boats moving far into the horizon. I was able to do all this during my visit to Sri Lanka.

We can see trees and flowers everywhere in Sri Lanka. They are very pleasant to the eye. Every experience in Sri Lanka was really wonderful! I hope to visit my grandparents in Sri Lanka during my next vacation too.

Ishara Herath,

Grade 5M,

International School of Milan,

Italy.

Your poems

Classroom - a cricket pitch

Winner:

Our classroom is a cricket pitch
Our exams are the test matches
Students are the batsman
Teacher is the umpire
Pen is our bat
Questions are the balls
Easy questions are full toss
Hard questions are the yorkers
Copying ’n’ caught is
Caught ’n’ bowled
Fail is to be run out
Blank papers are a duck-out
And the first rank is
The man of the match.

F. Shajeeha Iliyas,
Grade 9E,
C/Khairiya M.B.M.V.

My teacher

My teacher is Mrs. Luxmy Bandara. She is very kind. She can sing well. She wears beautiful sarees. She advises us to be good children. I love my teacher.

Maleesha Sandaruwani,
Grade 3F,
Defence Services
College,Colombo 2.