Progress of Sri Lanka

Winner:

Today we live in a micro-chip globalised world with an ongoing development process. Development means the progress made in various fields of a country. In today's world some countries are classed as developed and others as developing.

The United States, China, Canada, Japan and Britain are among the developed countries. Our country is a developing country.

As a nation we are developing in various fields such as literacy, infrastructure, per capita income, health, tourism, maternal and infant mortality rates and so on.

The present government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken the initiative to provide many facilities to schoolchildren by improving the field of education. They have also taken steps to improve the infrastructure of the country by constructing new bridges and flyovers, carpetting and repairing roads, and also constructing roundabouts and islands on roadways. Many new buildings have also been constructed and the cities cleaned up to improve its appearance. They have also introduced various programmes to develop spoken English skills especially among schoolchildren. The IT field has also been developed to a great extent.

Asia's biggest inland port was constructed at Hambantota, the Norochcholai coal power plant was commissioned, hydro power projects were started and several other development projects were launched in the country last year.

Apart from these development projects various programmes and campaigns to upgrade the social life of people such as the Mathata Thitha campaign, to stop the consumption of alcohol were introduced. Even drugs are being eradicated in the country by rounding up drugs peddlers.

As Sri Lanka is a country rich in fauna and flora and natural beauty, it has helped to develop the tourist industry too.

The peaceful atmosphere which has dawned after terrorism was eradicated has also helped a great deal. There is much development taking place in areas like Jaffna with uncultivated lands being cultivated with vegetables and other crops, universities which were closed being opened, new schools established and new projects launched. In the months ahead, the country will progress further and even the people of this land will be surprised about it. As children of the future we should support the development process of this government and make Sri Lanka a developed nation.

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

Tholangamuwa Central

College.

The country I like to visit

Winner:

The country I would like to visit is Australia. Some of the main cities in Australia are Canberra, Sydney, Perth and Darwin. There are five states. They are Queensland, North Australia, Western Australia, North Territory and South Australia.

The famous fruits that grow in Australia are apples, strawberries, blackberries and other kinds of berries.

There are many interesting places to visit in Australia such as the Opera House, Sydney harbour and the blue mountain in Melbourne.

The Aborigines are the original inhabitants of Australia.

There are many animal sanctuaries. Two native animals which are very popular are the kangaroo and the koala.

I love to visit this country to learn about their customs and tradition.

Safra Nawas,

Hejaaz International School,

Mt.Lavinia.

Time management

Winner:

Time waits for no man, no matter how powerful, rich or famous he or she may be.

Time is precious and needs to be put to good use. With each second, minute and hour that ticks by, our lives too are passing by.

No amount of money in the world can buy back the time we have wasted, and all the opportunities we may have missed by doing so.

How we make use of our time is important. It depends solely on us.

We should not use our leisure only to play, watch television or simply laze around. Just as much as play and relaxation are important for a healthy life, developing our mind and creative abilities too are important. So we must make proper use of our time to do so.

As children, we may feel that we have all the time in the world to achieve the various things we hope to achieve in life. But, without our knowledge, time will pass us by. We will suddenly realise that we do not have enough time to do all the things we planned to do.

It will be too late then and we will regret wasting so much of our precious time. We will not be able to buy back the time that could have been put to good use, studying and exploring the many avenues and opportunities life has offered us.

We should try our best to manage our time well and make the most of it.

Yogarajah Kishanthaney,

Bt/Padiruppu

Nationa School.

I love my country

My country Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean. It is also called the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’.

It is an agricultural country and most of the people are farmers. The staple food is rice.There are several ethnic communities living in my country. The main four communities are the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and the Burghers.The population of Sri Lanka is about 19 million. The country’s main imports are food, clothing and machinery, while the main exports are tea, rubber, coconut, spices and gems.

Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972 but we gained independence in 1948. Today we are a free nation.

Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte is the administrative capital of Sri Lanka but the commercial capital is Colombo. Piduruthalagala is the highest mountain and the Mahaweli is the longest river.

There is a tropical climate in Sri Lanka. My country is famous throughout the world as a tourist paradise. There are many tourist attractions here.

I love my country very much.

Gayani Ishanka Senevirathna,

K/Ambatenna Model Primary School,

Ambatenna.

Life...

Winner

Like a lake,

It starts from the lowest point

Passes the tough, rough things,

Takes up the challenges,

Makes them positive.

Flows to its own target

Like a river,

It flows.

It’s a cycle,

Which hasn’t an end,

Sometimes,

It’s an ocean,

Matured with experiences.

Feel life,

Be with life,

Make your own life,

A life of success.

Hasara Senadhipathi,

Ku/Parakramabahu

National School,Polgahawela.

At last...

Winner:

At last the bombs are over

At last the firing is over

At last our fear is over

And at last we can live together

At last we can walk on the streets

At last our minds are free

At last the tears have ceased,

And at last we have peace

At last the innocent can live,

At last nature is free,

At last everyone can shout out,

That the war has finished!

Sarah Seresinghe,

Grade 8G,Lyceum

International School, Nugegoda.

I like to be a doctor

My name is Thisuni Sehasna. I am five years old. I live in Pasyala. The name of my school is Negombo South International. I am in Grade 1-C.

I have no brothers and sisters. My mother’s name is Disna and my father’s name is Prabath. My mother is a housewife. My father is a businessman.

My best friend is Muthu. My hobby is reading story books. I like to eat icecream and drink water.I like to be a doctor one day.

V.P. Thisuni Sehasna,

Grade 1C,

Negombo South International School,

Nittambuwa branch.

A person I admire

A person I admire is my loving father because he is very kind to everybody. Another good quality I have seen in him is the way he helps friends, family members, neighbours and relations.

He is an Army officer. I admire his job too. He never speaks tells. He is also not an unfair person. He is a good father to me because he gives me love, kindness and protection.

Thisura Osal Thibbotuge, Ananda College , Colombo 10.

What is friendship?

Friendship is a bond between two living beings. Friendships are formed irrespective of age, status, caste, creed or gender. A child, a teenager, a young or an old person can find a friend.

True friends share everything; their feelings, dreams, happiness, and sadness. Friends should be trustworthy and loyal to each other. Caring and sharing makes a friendship strong and binding. Friendship uplifts the lives of people and gives colour to life.

“Good friends are like good books”.

Loganathan Linshon,

Grade 10C,

CP/NW/Ragala Central College.