Ambalama, a symbol of our heritage

Winner:

One day while my grandma was relating a story she mentioned about an ambalama.

As I was familiar with this place, I asked her, “Atthamma, I have never seen an ambalama in our town”. She laughed gently and said, in ancient times there was no motor transport. However people travelled long distances by walking.

When they had to cover a long distance, they usually rest for a while mid way through the journey and for this they select special places to rest. These were substitutes for houses which helped them to temporarily stay safe. These were called ambalamas. An ambalama is not only a resting place but also a communicating centre in ancient days, people didn’t live alone. As such, they lived together.

They shared their happiness and grief. In the evening they gathered at the ambalama to chew betel and gossip. It was the symbol of unity.

The ambalama was a topic for folk tales, folk poetry and folk music. Many a poet advice their messengers which were birds such as parrots, pigeons, fowl and salalihini to rest in an ambalama.

In Buddhism, building a shelter for travellers, digging wells for no payments, keeping water vessels at roadside are meritorious acts.

An ambalama is a reflection of our culture. It reflects our heritage and architectural capabilities especially in wood carving and construction.

The Mangalagama Ambalama is the oldest ambalama which was built by King Dutugamunu.

In our heritage, the ambalama is testament to our peaceful co-existence with human beings in the past. In this Hi-tech era there are no inter-personal activities.

Therefore, human beings are very lonely. In the highways people use motor vehicles for transport.

They don’t even peep in to an ambalama. But an ambalama is a land mark of our heritage.

W.A. Amandi Charundya
Grade 9-B
St. Anthony’s Girls’ School,
Kandy

Importance of micro-organisms

Winner:

Micro-organisms which live in the environment are not visible to the naked eye. We need a light microscope to look at them or research them.

There are various types of micro-organisms which have already been identified by scientists such as ‘bacteria, virus, fungi and unicellular organisms.

They generally help us in many ways, but sometimes they could be harmful. First, let me mention the benefits of micro-organisms. They contribute to produce ‘compost’. We use it as a fertile manure which doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals to the body. Micro-organisms are very useful to the coir industry because they digest the coconut husks from which coir is manufactured.

Micro-organisms are also used to produce vinegar immunization vaccines and antibiotics. When manufacturing antibiotics mostly bacteria and fungi are used.

Sometimes microbes spread illnesses among the people. Food spoilage is also carried out by micro-organisms. Sometimes, micro-organisms are harmful but most of the time they are helpful to us. Can you imagine what would happen in the future if micro-organisms are endangered?

Bambarawana Liyanage Sumudu Lakmali,
Grade 9-B,
MR/Thelijjawila Central College.

I like flowers

Flowers are very beautiful. They have sweet smells. There are many different kinds of flowers. They are roses, lilies, sunflowers, orchids and lotuses.

The flower is the most beautiful part of a plant. There are many soft petals in lovely colours such as red, pink, white, orange and yellow.

Butterflies and bees like flowers. They come to suck nectar from the flowers. My favourite flower is lotus. I like flowers very much.

Nawanjana Vihangi,
Grade 1B,
Negombo South International School,
Nittambuwa.

Structure education on latest technology

Winner:

As an Advanced Level student it is my opinion that the following changes mut be made to find solutions to the challenges students face in today’s society.

Education is a must but it should be practical. Today teaching in schools is done within a frame or in other words, within a recognised syllabus. This teaching system is very traditional. According to my perspective, this system of education is not practical, since it is bound only to the classrooms, note books, pens and pencils. This system is not applicable to the practical world.

In order to overcome this issue, I propose that, ‘the latest technology should be connected with this traditional methods of teaching and the entire educational system in the country. It’s important that an expert or a professional in the relevant subject observe what is taught in the classroom.

For example, think you are an A/L Commerce student following a lesson during the Accounts period. As usual your Accounts teacher will be able to teach you the theories and guide you to work on accounts using pens and papers in the traditional way. But can you handle an account only with this traditional teaching in a bank? No you cannot. Therefore, if an expert in the field like a bank Manager was observing the classroom teaching he would be able to teach you how to apply the theoretical knowledge of accounting in a practical manner. He or she will teach you how to work on an account with the latest technology, especially by using a computer.

You may now understand the difference, and be able to select what is beneficial. Whether to continue only with the traditional system or handle it with modern technology to learn practical capabilities in the world. Here, I do not say that the traditional method of teaching should be neglected and done away with. But these theories should be combined with the new technology to reap harvest its benefits.

Living in a modernised world where everything changes very quickly, the education system too should be modernised; it should be applicable and practical to these changes and challenges.

Authorities must turn a positive eye towards the necessity of structuring the educational system on par with advancing technology in order to assist students face the numerous challenges that would come their way in the future.

A.A.D.R. Nishadi,
Grade 12J, Kuli/Central College,
Kuliyapitiya.

True friendship - a great gift

Winner:

Friendship is one of the noblest expressions of human instincts and emotion. Many poets and singers have praised and lauded friendship.

Friends are like a guiding light that leads us to joy and happiness in this world of sorrows and selfishness. Everybody needs a friend at one point or another in one’s life. Even powerful and mighty people, such as kings and queens crave for friends.

Friendship is one of the crowning glories of mankind. Friendship involves a lot of responsibilities, obligations and duties.

There are many fair-weather friends. They are there to share your sunshine and laughter. During happiness and prosperity they are always with you, but as soon as you are in some trouble or facing misfortune, they are nowhere to be found.

It is very difficult to find a true friend nowadays. It is said ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’

It is easy to make friends, but it is really difficult to maintain a friendship because it involves a lot of responsibilities, duties, obligations and sacrifices.

A true friend is worth his weight in gold. We should choose our friends very carefully and patiently. We should try to find out their true qualities and character before making friends with them.Friendship inspires confidence and sacrifice for each other.

No sacrifice made for a friend is too great. If you can have even one true friend, consider yourself very fortunate. A true friend is a precious gift.

W. Taniya Gimhani Fernando,
Grade 9D E.M.
Nw/Ch/Wen/Dankotuwa Girls’ College.

Value childhood

Winner:

Childhood is a stage of human life we enjoy .We will never experience the same type of freedom and joy once we become adults.From infancy we step into childhood.

It is during childhood that we begin to talk and walk properly, recognise our relatives and inter act with people.

Until we reach 18 years we are considered children. When a child enters teen years – age thirteen, he/she gains more knowledge about society. He has a better understanding of himself and others. Generally during this time they change the way they behave and interact with others.

There are two major stages of childhood. The first is known as early childhood, where our parents always guide us and stay behind us like our shadows.

The next stage of childhood is adolescence, the time when our parents show us the right path and guide us, and give us the freedom to decide because we are able to understandthings better. We must always do the right thing during this time.

Childhood is the stage, when we can achieve many things especially at school and various other fields. This is the time we can show our talents in dancing, music, sports and other social activities.

Childhood is the most beautiful and important stage in our lives. During childhood, we must develop our talents and show them to the world. When we become teenagers, we must think twice before making decisions and coming to any conclusion about any thing that concerns our lives.

Most adults wish they could go back to their childhood, while many children clamour to become adults. This is because most children don’t understand the value of childhood. During childhood we spent all our time with our parents. They take good care of us and give us what we want. When we become adults we have more responsibilities and some times have lost our parents too. During this time we will have our own families to support and care for, so we cannot enjoy the love and care of our parents like we do as children.

If we understand the correct value of this age, we can reap many benefits during this stage of life. So, as children, lets learn to value every single minute of our childhood _ a precious stage of life which will never come again.

Sanduni Navinda Mihishani Perera,
Grade 7,
Willesden College International.