A smoke free environment

Winner:

Among the many ways of polluting the environment and human life, emission of smoke is a very dangerous threat.

Smoke is emitted into the environment in many ways. Harmful smoke from vehicles, gases and smoke from factories and even from cigarettes are some of the ways in which the atmosphere gets polluted.

Smoke of any kind is harmful not only for the environment but also for humans. Smoke from cigarettes is very harmful because it destroys the human respiratory system and causes dangerous diseases such as lung cancer and asthma.

Nowadays many people spend large amounts of money on cigarettes. Smokers waste their money just to pollute the air and destroy human lives. As even those who do not smoke are harmed, there is a ban on smoking in public places.

The authorities such as the police who are responsible in this regard should take immediate steps to control smoking, especially among the younger generation.

They should try to minimise the sale of cigarettes and punish those who smoke in public places. Not only the police, we too as school children can control smoking by educating the public about its dangerous effects.

The community stands to benefit by controlling smoking. Society can get rid of many of the diseases caused as a result of smoking.

An environment free from smoke is highly valuable. Let’s make our environment a ‘smoke free one’ by banding together through thick and thin.

A.A.D.R. Nishadi,
Grade 11 - f- English Medium,
Saranath MV, Kuliyapitiya.

Let’s minimise global warming

Winner:

Global warming is on the increase. Global warming is the heating up of the Earth resulting in a rise in temperature. The temperature increases because of the greenhouse effect which results from human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane trap heat from the Sun in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The greenhouse effect is similar to heat being trapped in a car which is parked on a hot day. The Sun’s rays go through the windows but this heat cannot get out.

An increase in global temperature will cause sea levels to rise due to melting ice and rainfall. It will cause the expansion of sub tropical deserts. Climate changes will also take place. These acts affect our surroundings. We are presently experiencing the effects of global warming.

Global warming harms people, animals and plants. It also destroys algae in the oceans. Many cannot accept the change. So they die.

To prevent global warming, we have to reduce the use of electrical items, especially those that release harmful gases, use recycled paper and buy minimally packed goods. Less packaging can reduce our garbage. One of the best things to do is to plant more trees. We have to plant a large numbers of trees because they suck up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If everyone of us does our bit to protect the environment, we can minimise global warming.

Abdhullah Ibrahim,
Hejaaz International School, Mt. Lavinia.

My grandma

Whenever I go to grandma’s house, she always makes me eat something, even if I am not hungry. We sit at her kitchen table and she watches me while I eat. She also asks many questions.

I love my grandma.

Keerthika Jennifer Ravindran,
Grade 5 Vangogh, OKI International School,
Wattala.

Friendship

Some people say that you won’t amount to anything without good friends. They forget the heroes standing behind them; the brave fighters, the peacemakers and those who help in many ways. These friends are the ones who share joy and sorrow with us. They are ready to help us in whatever situation we are.

This is a golden bond or a gift given to us by God so we should know how to protect it. Friends also can be categorised into two groups “Good friends” and “bad friends”. If I am to talk about good friends they are the ones who help you to follow the correct path by avoiding vices.

Bad friends. This is the type of friends we should all try to avoid. These friends will always tell you to do what is wrong and put you on the wrong path.

Dear friends, please remember always to have good friends in your life who are helpful and would guide you on the right path. Please protect this gift. A true friend is a very important person in your life.

Nichola Senaratne,
Grade 10 COM B, Lyceum International School, Wattala.

'Queen of the Night'

Winner:

The jasmine is the pride of all beautiful gardens. Endowed with an exotic perfume, the jasmine flower is one of the most beautiful and fragrant among all the 15,000 or more flowering plant species found in Sri Lanka. These scented flowers are used for medical and religious purposes as well as for decorations. The plant, which usually climbs up as a vine, or grows as a shrub reaches a height of about 8 to 10 feet. Strangely, the little flowers that this plant bears in huge clusters are about an inch each. The rich oval shaped green leaves give the entire plant a very beautiful and artistic appearance.

A symbol of purity and peace, the beautiful jasmine flowers are naturally white in colour. The jasmine plant grows in many parts of the world spreading its fragrance all over.

It is a genus of shrubs and vine in the olive family with about 200 species. It is native to tropical and warm temperate region of the world. The leaves can be either evergreen or deciduous. Some of the common varieties of jasmine include the white jasmine and the poet's jasmine. Most varieties have a great scent. However, some varieties have no scent at all. The flower buds are the most fragrant part of the jasmine plant.

Jasmines grow best in locations that provide access to sunlight for at least four hours a day.

These plants grow best in moist soil and need to be watered often. In India, and even in our country the jasmine is often referred to as the "Queen of the Night" because of the strong fragrance the flower gives off at night.

A gift of a god

Or fallen from the heavens

The fragrance lulls our mind

Teaches us about purity and peace

Queen of the Night, remain in my

memory Forever!

Sanduni Manthila Wijesinghe,
Grade 9-C,
Dankotuwa Girls' College, Dankotuwa.

Mosquitoes cause diseases

Winner:

There are many kinds of mosquitoes in our country. A polluted environment is mainly the cause for the mosquito menace. Polythene and discarded plastic bottles can be attributed as a cause for environmental pollution. The other factor is the drain in front of our houses and the drain along the roads. The drains become breeding places for mosquitoes.

Prevention of mosquito breeding is important today. The spread of chikungunya, dengue, malaria and filaria are caused by mosquitoes.

They are the worst and the most dangerous diseases in our country. We have to pay more attention to the spread of these diseases. As prevention is better than cure, we have to take serious and immediate action to destroy the breeding places of mosquitoes.

People should be encouraged to destroy mosquito breeding grounds by keeping their houses, gardens and drains clean. They have to be educated about the outcome of these breeding places. They must be issued pamphlets telling the danger of throwing garbage in their environment.

Garbage can be seen lying on the wayside. It is very clear that without the co-operation of the people we can not solve the mosquito menace.

We should make everyone very knowledgeable and active about destroying mosquito breeding places. Without the support and help from the public, no one can destroy the breeding places of mosquitoes.

If we want to succeed in eradicating the mosquito menace, we should all work towards it and make the people aware of the diseases and the danger that we have to face as a result of mosquitoes.

Nusla Niyas,
Muslim Balika Maha Vidyalaya,Kalutara.

Forms of entertainment

Winner:

In this modern world life has become a battle for everyone. For some people it's a real rat-race. We all find it difficult to cope with our day-to-day work. To overcome this situation we crave to have some sort of recreation. In other words, we call it entertainment.

There are lots of ways by which we can find entertainment to relieve our mind from worries and stress of day to day life.

The field of sports has gained a very prominent and enviable position in this regard. Everyone, from children to adults, is interested in sports due to various reasons; some pursue it for pleasure and others for health reasons or for monetary benefits.

Some games help us to improve our knowledge while others help us learn patience, develop a highlevel of thinking, great power of concentration, team work and fair play. Many find it a great form of entertainment.

Music is also a great way to relieve mental stress.

It is also considered a great source of entertainment. Most people enjoy music. It helps people relax and enjoy a restful time. Some listen to music while doing various chores too.

Nowadays television plays a major role in society. Nearly 80 per cent of the people in the world watch television for enjoyment and recreation.

Some people have become Tv addicts. No doubt it gives pleasure but it will also lead us to major diseases like obesity.

Mobile phones, the internet, computer games and e-mail are also available these days.

But it is in our hands to choose the right path and spend our precious life meaningfully, by choosing good ways of entertainment.

Shabnam Sansitha Sanoon
Grade 9A,
Holy Family Convent, Dehiwala.