Colourful avian visitors

Winner:

Sometimes we want to go on a tour around the world. But, we cannot always do so freely because we need a lot of money and entry visas for this. Although we humans cannot travel freely, birds are very fortunate. They can do so without all the hassal.

However, everything is not as rosy as we think. Even though we think that birds are very lucky to be able to migrate, they fly away from their home country once a year not for fun but to escape the harsh cold winter most often.

The birds fly in groups mostly in the same route every year following geographical marks. And this ability comes to them from generation to generation.

Migrant birds come to countries which are located near the equator. During the migration season about 150 birds migrate to Sri Lanka every year. They mostly settle in the northern and the southern provinces.The birds which migrate can be divided into two groups such as water birds and forest birds according to their settling places. Terns, ducks, flamingoes and mainly water fowls are birds which move in groups and can be easily spotted in the Bundala and Yala sanctuaries.

As Sri Lanka, our motherland is rich in biodiversity, the migrant birds can be seen during the months from December to March. And these birds do not nest during their visits.

Some of the migrant birds are very beautiful because of their colourful feathers.

All around the world, many people are attracted to bird watching as a hobby and a leisure activity. During this migrating periods bird watchers camp in these places where the birds rest. Many children use their own home gardens for such observations, using binoculars. They also maintain note books of the birds they see in their gardens.

As Sri Lankans we are very fortunate to have regular visits of these migratory birds. However, we must take measures to encourage the birds to migrate here by protecting places like the rainforests, waterlands and dry zonal wetland.

We should also ensure that bird watchers camouflage themselves when observing the birds so as not to disturb the privacy of the birds.

Let's protect the environment so that we could enjoy and relax by watching these beautiful visitors.

Thumalee de Silva,

Grade 11A,

Visakha Vidyalaya,

Colombo.

The peacock, a proud bird

Winner:

The peacock is a very beautiful bird. It is supposed to be the seat of God Skanda.

The peacock has bluish-green feathers, which are smooth as velvet. Various shades of these coloured feathers on its tail have an eye like design on them.

It is about five feet tall with a thin and graceful neck. It has a small crest of feathers on its head. Its eyes are small and beady.

The peacock is a vain bird. It likes to show off its beautiful tail. It spreads out its tail in the shape of a fan and dances. It is a wonderful sight to watch. The movements of the peacock are light and graceful.

Unlike its appearance, which is beautiful and charming, the peacock's cry is harsh and unpleasant. It is a pity that such a beautiful bird has such an unpleasant cry.

The peacock announces the approach of rain.

It feels very happy when it rains. It dances for joy. It has helped add a simile to the English language because sometimes a person is said to be 'As proud as a peacock.'

Praveenya de Silva,

Grade 9,

Good Shepherd

Convent, Panadura.

When I am 29...

Winner:

I celebrated my ninth birthday very recently but I was very sad because I had fallen down and injured my hand. On that day I determined to be a doctor. I got this idea because I suffered a lot of pain all through the day.

When I am twenty-nine years old I want to be a famous doctor in Sri Lanka.

A doctor's service is a very valuable and charitable one. When I treat patients, it will give me enormous pleasure.

When I am about 30 years old I will be old enough to understand many things. Some people are suffering from many illnesses but they are poor and don't have money to spend on medicines. I will discuss with the government and make arrangements to provide medicine for them, free of charge. I will treat them kindly.

As I grow older I will not forget to help all the needy people. I like helping others, especially the poor people because it brings me great pleasure.

I believe God will also look after me because I look after the poor. I will do this service with a genuine and pure heart until I pass away from this world.

Savindu Hiranniya Herat,

Grade 5A, Royal International School, Kurunegala.

The value of a dictionary

Winner:

A dictionary is an official book containing an infinite number of words in a particular language, according to the alphabetical order. It also includes the meanings and grammatical usage of these words.

There are many types of dictionaries which are categorised, as bilingual or monolingual dictionaries.Dictionaries are useful to children as well as adults.

Some dictionaries contain reference sections on various topics, such as grammar, symbols used in numbers, the periodic table of elements, geographical names, pronunciation, phonetic spellings and so on. Most dictionaries contain a separate section as an introduction or guide to the dictionary.

Some even have picture pages and separate study pages. Dictionaries are a great source to improve the knowledge of mankind. We must all have a dictionary and learn how to use one too.

Maheshi Fernando,

Grade 8G,

Lyceum International School,

Nugegoda.

Be kind to our dumb friends

Winner:

Animals are innocent creatures. Like us they also like to live freely and to be treated kindly. They also feel pain the way we feel. However, animals are not treated kindly in most places. Some unkind people kill them mercilessly for the sake of sports, or out of cruelty while others kill animals for religious sacrifices.

We also see birds such as mynah and parrots being kept in cages as pets in many households but they are not looked after well. Even cats and dogs in certain houses are not given a proper place to rest and are not looked after at times of illness. They suffer silently and die.

We have also seen how certain people leave puppies and kittens by the roadsides when they think they are a nuisance to them. Most of these poor creatures get killed after being run over by passing vehicles and become food for the crows.

There are some children who throw stones at little birds and puppies on their way to school. There are others who destroy their nests and young ones for pleasure. These are all very bad habits that should be stopped. Parents, elders and teachers should advise children to be kind to animals.

I think most of the people who are unkind to these poor creatures, are those who had not attended any Sunday school during their childhood. So, parents must encourage their children to attend daham pasal on Sundays and learn that all living creatures on Earth have the right to live freely.

E.M. Kasuni Madumali,

B/Kuda Kusum Balika MV.

Bandarawela.

My village temple

Sometimes this splendid temple might have been named as 'Vapikaramaya' because it is located adjoining a lake and the word 'vapi' means a lake.

It is a somewhat small, but beautiful ancient tank situated in an area called Boralesgamuwa. At once the noble thought of 'Wewai, dhagabai, kethai' came to my mind when I saw the green paddy field on one side and this white dagoba on the other.

When the leaves of the bo-tree fluttered for the wind of this lake, I remembered the fluttering leaves of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi for the winds of the Tissa Wewa.

In the moonlight this temple appears as a monastery which has broken off from heaven. Though this attractive temple is located in a small piece of land it is famous even in other countries. So, I am proud to be in a dayake family belonging to this temple.In 1942, this temple had been established as a very small avasaya by the departed Ven. Udahamulle Sri Dhammananda Thera.

I have heard that he even planted this bo-tree which was brought down by him following a pilgrimage to Dhambadiva. In honour of this, the Dham Pasala has been named after him.

Even today the elders in our village offer their gratitude to this thera.In the past this temple had been very small, but today it is a very famous sacred place that illuminates the entire area with the light of the dhamma. The credit of this massive progress goes to Ven. Ponnilawa Rathanapala Thera.

He is not only a very pleasant thera but also a highly disciplined and virtuous person.

His arrival to this temple is a grate fortune and a blessing for us. Within a short period of time he has managed to put up a nice storied building to enshrine the relics, a library, an auditorium and the white dagoba on top, with the subscriptions of donors.

He has also set up a monastic college and has also ordained several young boys to propagate the dhamma in the future. I wish a long and healthy life for this praiseworthy thera.

Yasasi Liyanage,

Grade 8C, Vidyakara Balika Vidyalaya,

Maharagama.