Should children use mobile phones?

A mobile phone has its advantages as well as disadvantages. It is very useful when it comes to contacting someone in an emergency. It is the best communication tool as it will help us contact anyone, such as the police or medical personnel, in an emergency. However, it can be misused too depending on the way one uses it.

I think mobile phones are not suitable for children due to several reasons. The first is that children are young and inexperienced. They face the problem of selecting what is good and bad. Many children play games on their mobile phones and waste money.

Children below 14 years can do without such mobile phones because these phones come with games, songs, face book, cameras and other facilities which could be used in a wrong manner. I think mobile phones are not a good device for children, especially if they are not taught how to use them properly.

Nikita Devinka Valentine,

Good Shepherd Convent,

Colombo 13.

A memorable trip to Jaffna

Winner:

The scholarship winners of St. Anthony’s College, Kandy were taken on a three day tour to Jaffna last year. On our way we saw a hanging bridge made by the Dutch at Parayanamkulam. We visited the ‘Madhu’ Shrine and proceeded to Silawathurai. Then through the Thalladi bridge, we went to Talaimannar island.

We also visited the Thirukedeeswaram kovil in Mannar. We fed a cow bananas. We saw many peacocks and also three-legged cows and dogs, which had got caught to landmines. We visited the Mannar jetty at the ‘Gulf of Mannar’.

We also saw the largest tree in South Asia called the Bio-Bab tree. Its circumference is 19.51 and the height is 75m. We visited a fishing village and saw how fish, lobsters and prawns were caught. We had lunch on ‘nelum leaves’.

At Poonarin we saw the natural sand dunes, On our way we saw churches, kovils and buildings destroyed during the war. We reached Kalmunai through the Jaffna lagoon.

At Elephantpass, we saw how the terrorist bulldozer was destroyed by ‘Gamini’, the Hasalaka hero. We also saw a large water tank which had been destroyed by the terrorists and the Kankesanthurai cement factory that had been burnt down.

The Nallur kovil, the largest kovil in Jaffna was another place we visited. We had a bath at the ‘herbal pond’ at Nageshwaram kovil, which is believed to cure any illness. The Kandurugoda Vihara where the Buddha is said to have rested for a few moments, Dambakolapatuna, ‘Naga-Vihara which is the only temple in Jaffna town, the Jaffna museum, library and Jaffna Fort which is the second largest fort in Sri Lanka built by the Portuguese are some of the other places we visited.

We also went to Nagadeepa islands by boat and saw Kayts islands on our way.

We also visited the famous Nilawarai Well where the water level remains the same throughout the year. We went up to Point Pedro, which is the tip of Sri Lanka. On our way back we had a bath at the Iranamadu tank.It was the most memorable and educational trip I had gone on, so far.

Jude Shannon Lucien,

Grade 8,St.Anthony’s College, Kandy.

YOUR POEMS

Nature and I

Winner:

I got a precious gift
A magical thing
Do you have it?
Yes, you have.

So beautiful, and pleasant
Very calm and quiet
Do you know it?
Yes, I believe.

Who gives food to us
Who gives water to us
Who gives places to visit,
Who is this?

Many things are there
Tree, rivers everywhere
Oh! she’s so wonderful
Our loving Mother Nature.

A. H. M. S. Wijesinghe,
Holy Family Convent,
Kurunegala.

Many visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

Winner:

The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is located in the Kegalle District. It was started about 30 years ago. If you want to visit this place you have to travel about three kilometres from the Kegalle town and turn left on Rambukkana Road. Then you have to travel another seven Km to reach the Orphanage.

The orphanage was established to safeguard and care for abandoned and orphaned wild elephants. There are adult and baby elephants in the orphanage. Some of the elephants are brought here with injuries. Many locals and foreigners visit this place where there are nearly one hundred elephants.

Some elephants are born in this orphanage and very recently too a baby elephant was born at this place.

Most visitors like to watch the elephants bathing. Their bath time is between 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The local and foreign visitors also like to visit the place when the baby elephants are being fed. The meal time here is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is a great tourist attraction and a wonderful place to see the majestic elephants.

W. K. Nirmalie Melonica Fernando,

Grade 10 Olu, St. Joseph’s

Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle.
 

Beauty of roses

Winner:

The rose is one of the most beautiful flowers in the world. There are many varieties of roses and they come in different sizes and colours. It is a flower with a pleasant smell. The rose plant has thorns all over it. Plenty of sunlight is necessary to grow this plant. Many people grow roses as a source of income.

Roses are used for decorations. They are an integral part at weddings and funerals. Roses are also exported to other countries. Roses are used in the perfume industry and so they can be exported. In botanical gardens such as Haggala and Peradeniya we can see plenty of well grown roses in various hues.

We should look after the rose plants well by manuring, weeding, watering and spraying chemicals at the right time. Then we can have a beautiful big rose garden.

Roses symbolise love and affection. Red roses are the most beautiful and popular among the many coloured roses.

H.M. Kithmini Minoma Herath

Grade 9-4, Girls’ College, Dankotuwa.

Myself

My name is Lakshitha Sahan. I am 13 years old. I live in Panadura.

I study at Panadura Royal College. My favourite subjects are English and Maths. I travel to school by bus. My height is five feet. I wear spectacles.

My father’s name is Rohan. He is a businessman. My mother’s name is Champa. She is a housewife. My sister Amalsha is following a computer course. I have two pets. Their names are Bruno and Emma.

My hobby is planting trees. My favourite food is milk rice and my favourite drink is apple juice.

My favourite sports are swimming and cricket.I want to be a doctor in the future. I watch the Discovery Channel.

My friends are Gihan, Supun, Sandun, Harshana, Isuru, Anjana, Thilina and Pasindu. My class teacher is Mrs. Udula. I love my family and pets.

Lakshitha Sahan

Royal College, Panadura.

My favourite sportsman

My favourite sportsman is Kumar Sagakkara. He is the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team. He is also the wicket keeper in the team.

He plays in all kinds of cricket matches such as ODIs, Test Matches and T20s. He is admired by many sports fans, not only in Sri Lanka but also in other cricket playing countries. Sri Lanka has won many tournaments under his captaincy.

I also dream of becoming a great cricket captain like him one day.

Adnan Shibly

Grade 5A,

Learnium International School,

Etul-Kotte, Rajagiriya.