Family - the pearl of my life

Winner:

The family is the smallest unit in society and it’s the origin of a better world. No one can forge ahead in life without a good family background. The family is the path to become a civilized person, because we first learn values and principles from family members.

There are four members in my family. They are my parents, sister and myself. I think we have a good understanding among us.

Every child grows up to be an adult passing different phases. Most often we pass these phases with our family. All the changes we go through in life are known by the family. My parents play a major role in my family. They earn money to take care of us.

My sister and I are the heart of our home. We all live in harmony, loving and caring for each other and sharing everything. We are safe in the arms of family. When any one of our family members has a problem all of us get together to help solve it. When anyone of us falls ill, we take good care of the person and help him/her get better. We share secrets, laugh and cry together, as a family.

My family serves as an anchor in my life and shows me the way to have a better life. I share my happiness and sorrow with my family. Whenever I go home with a heavy heart, my family changes my tears to joy.

Affection shown by a family is just like the warmth on a cold, dark night. My family works hard to help me gain victory in life. The world may change suddenly, but my love for my family will not change forever. My family will always be in my heart. It is the pearl of my life that brightens my future.

E.A.D. Shanika Gunapala,
Grade 11,
Helena Wijewardana Balika Maha Vidyalaya,
Kelaniya.

Reading - my hobby

Winner:

People have different leisure activities such as reading, gardening, swimming, collecting stamps, watching TV, listening to music, travelling and cycling. Out of all these leisure activities I consider reading to be a very useful hobby. Reading provides both entertainment and knowledge.

I read books, newspapers, magazines and a host of other reading material. They certainly help me to brush up my knowledge. I read the Junior Observer every week and I collect important essays and language lessons.

I have a small library in my room. There are nearly 300 books in my Sumudu library. My parents always give me books as presents. I have read about 300 books and my favourite book is Village by the Sea. It is an interesting book. My favourite author is Charles Dickens. “Reading maketh a full man”, the saying goes. So, let us determine to read more and more books in the future.

G.A. Eshan Nandith,
Grade 9D,
St. Mary’s College, Matugama.

Invisible organisms

Winner:

We cannot see micro-organisms with our naked eyes. In the world there are various types of micro organisms which are identified by scientists through scientific observations.

Bacteria, virus, unicellular organisms and fungi are classified as micro-organisms. All the organisms can be seen well with a microscope.

Micro-organisms have two main functions; they can be helpful and harmful. They cause diseases, help decay or spoil food and other things.

Micro-organisms are the major cause of most diseases we contract. Decaying of various food substances are caused by bacteria and fungi.

There are many occasions where the organisms are useful in our day-to-day life. We can observe various types of microbial activities in the fibre industry, compost production and in dairy products such as curd, cheese, yoghurt and vinegar.

Even though micro-organisms are the major cause of most of the diseases in the world, at times they have become the saviours of our life.

Some bacteria and fungi are useful in the production of immunization vaccines and antibiotics.

Micro-organisms are important. Think for a moment. If the organisms become extinct by some means, what drastic changes would occur in the world? Some such changes would be no fermentation, no decaying of substances and of course no diseases.

The latter would no doubt be most welcome by everyone.

K.A. Kithmini Dilrangi,
Grade 9E,
Ferguson High School,
Ratnapura.

Why use animals for scientific experiments?

Winner:

For many years, scientists have been using animals for experiments. Many products and medicinal items are firstly tested on animals before they are released to the market.

It is not right to use animals for experiments. Of course there are two forms of experiments with animals. One is to find out more about the animals, their food and habitat needs so that they could be protected and saved from extinction, and the other is to test substances to see if they are harmful. Do you think it is right to use animals for experiments just because they cannot say that they do not want to be tested on?

Animals too have rights and they should be treated with respect. Like human life, their lives too are precious to them. It is wrong to infect monkeys with the AIDS virus or to expose rodents to toxic chemicals and radiation. It is not acceptable in this hi-tec world. Why can't medicines for the benefit of humans be tested on humans? Because no human would give their consent to do so. And man has taken it upon himself to use innocent animals who cannot speak for themselves for this purpose.

It is not right to test medicines on perfectly healthy animals. Such testings makes them suffer and die.

We must stand up for the innocent animals and help them. We must put an end to this cruel and inhuman treatment they undergo for the sake of science.

Today, with so much advances made in technology, there should be many ways that products and medicines could be tested without using animals. It is time the use of innocent animals stopped. As these tests are necessary to make products for the benefit of humans, perhaps people should volunteer to become the guinea pigs. Scientists must find alternate methods of testing and animal experiments should be banned.If you are an animal lover, let's speak in favour of the animals. Let's make the world a better place for all the animals to live in!

Madhushi Palliyaguruge,
Grade 9,
Lyceum International, Nugegoda.

My motherland

Winner:

Sri Lanka is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. It is the shining pearl of the oriental world. The commercial capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo. It is a Democratic, Socialist Republic.

Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two monsoons each year.

At 92 per cent Sri Lanka has one of the highest Asian literacy rates. Sri Lanka has an undefeatable glorious history that goes up to the beginning of man's civilization. It is the storehouse of Therevada Buddhism.

Sri Lanka will be among, the most powerful countries of the world by 2025. It is said that Sri Lankans are a very friendly and hospitable people. The staple food is rice and main exports are tea, rubber, ready-made garments and gems. It is one of the world's largest tea exporters.

Today Sri Lanka's tourism industry has begun to flourish. The population is about 20 million and the main communities are Sinhala, Tamil, Muslims and Burghers.

If all communities stand together as one, Sri Lanka would be the paradise of this world.

W.W. Patale Navidi Chathunima
Grade 4-A,
Success English College,
Piliyandala.

My school

The name of my school is Hejaaz International. It is situated in Mount Lavinia. There are five floors. It is a big school and it is beautiful. We have a good library with lots of new books in it. We have a modern computer laboratory too. We also have a playground. There is a girls section and a boys section.

The Principal of my school is Mrs. Zarina Hizbullah. I am in Grade 3. My class teacher's name is Ms. Farah Zahir.

The head mistress of the school is Mrs. Ameena Abdul Malik.

My school started in 1994. Now it is eighteen years old. There are more than a thousand students. The new head prefect is Shafni Nizam.

I love my school very much because it is a good school.

Ahmed Yaseen
Grade 3,
Hejaaz International School,
Mt. Lavinia.

I am a doll

I came from Japan. Now, I live with a little girl called Januli. She calls me Judy. She loves me very much. She keeps me near her pillow at night. I wear a blue frock and a blue hat.Januli plays with me everyday. I am a happy doll.

Januli Jayathilaka
Grade 3H,
Musaeus College,
Colombo.

My ambition

My ambition is to be an English teacher because in my society there are hardly any English teachers. So, lots of children don't know the English language. That's why I like to teach them English when I grow up.

I am very interested in learning English now. I really love the English language.

One day my dream will come true and I will become an English teacher.

I will guide the children well when I become an English teacher.“I love English.”

S.N.F. Zahra,
Grade 11,
Pu/Kal Alankuda MMV.