We should save electricity

Winner:

Electricity is important for our day-to-day life. These days people cannot do any work without electricity, because the world is developed and everything is done by machine. Machines are powered by electricity. Even household work is done with the help of electricity - like boiling water, cooking, shaving and even sweeping is done by machine. Most people don’t know how we get electricity and from where we get it, so they waste electricity.

Electricity is converted from water, wind, fuel and sunlight. They are natural resources. We should not waste it. We should protect it and join programs like Earth Hour and help to save electricity.

Michel M. Perera,
Cambridge International,
Gampaha.

The ‘heavenly quality of cleanliness’

Winner:

The word cleanliness is an outcome of a habit of keeping clean. Cleanliness is necessary for a healthy existence. Dirt spreads diseases. We should keep in mind to keep away from dirt. This can be done by keeping our bodies, our clothes, our houses and our surroundings clean.

There is a saying “Cleanliness is next to godliness”. Here cleanliness refers to both the mind and body. Our bodies and minds need to be in good, healthy condition for a person to lead a happy life.

‘Cleanliness of the mind’ requires much more than that of the body. To keep our minds clean, first of all we must be good, honest and truthful people. The more honesty, goodness and truthfulness that we have in us, the cleaner we will be from the inside.

A good, right and just person has a clear conscience without any fear of having done anything wrong. Such a person possesses a clean mind.

So we should try our best and work hard to be clean from within and without. We will then be the proud possessors of a heavenly quality called ‘cleanliness'.

Praveenya de Silva,
Grade 11,
Good Shepherd Convent,
Panadura.

I want to be a well-known writer

Winner:

My favourite writer is Enid Blyton. Maybe now you know my future plan. Well, I want to be a well-known writer just like Enid Blyton. I love Enid Blyton’s books. When I read them I feel as it I am at the scene of the incident.

I like the mystery stories such as ‘Famous Five’ and ‘Secret Seven’ and even more I like the school series which include ‘St. Clares’ and ‘Mallory Towers’. Her books are fascinating.

I know what it is like to read an interesting book. So I want to write at least ten such volumes. I have written one book titled “The Three Adventures!”, but it could never be good as one of Enid Blyton’s books.

Do you know how I was inspired to write books ? As I said before I cannot even describe what it is to read an exciting, interesting and adventurous book. I decided that when I grow bigger I will make children read books and to have a taste for reading books, just like me.

Reading books is okay, but there should be a limit. Most of the time my father tells me that I read too much.

When I bring books from the library, I do not end by reading it only once. I read them over and over again. My sister asks me what is the use of reading books over and over again, but it it is useful to me. I am able to remember the story for a long time.

I also like books such as Swiss Family Robinson by J.R. Wyss, Silas Marner by George Eliot, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol and books by Charles Dickens. The ‘Wild White Boy’ by R.L. Spittle. He is my second favourite author. I hope I will be able to carry on my future plan and write books just like R.L. Spittle and Enid Blyton.

Dinushi Ruvinika Jayasekera,
Grade 5,
All Nations International School,
Warapalana.

Games should be given due place

Winner:

Games are important in the lives of children. There is a proverb which says “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. It would be boring for schoolchildren to study all the time. They need recreation and relaxation. Games provide them with recreation. They give rest to the mind. After playing games, children return refreshed to their studies. They can study with renewed vigour.

Physical health is necessary to enjoy mental health. To maintain physical health, children need the exercise provided by games. So games help boys and girls to keep good health and develop a healthy body

Games help children to develop team spirit. They learn to co-operate with other children in playing team games.

This help them to be disciplined. Being disciplined and co-operative will make them good citizens when they grow up.

Pravesha de Silva,
Grade 6,
Good Shepherd Convent,
Panadura.

Defeat is the path to victory!

Winner:

Defeat ... is an unpleasant memory. As humans we have unpleasant memories like defeat. We like to celebrate victory though it is not achievable by everyone. There's a long story behind defeat. Defeat makes people sad.

Once you face defeat in any event you feel sad. But you never forget failure. Failure is the path to victory. Tears define sadness, sorrow, love, amazement and even at happy time too. Some people think tears are a sign of weakness. But that is wrong no one can define tears as being a sign of weakness. Society can criticise, though it may be unfair.

For example many people criticised the former captain of the Sri Lankan national cricket team, T.M. Dilshan, because he lost many matches. Some people think that leadership is a crown with pearls and gems, on it. They don't realise it is a thorny crown. The majority of society never saw how dedicated he was.

They never thought of his endless responsibilities. We should appreciate his work, and leadership. He is a great person but, we lost him as a captain... and a good captain at that! There are many defeats behind us. Many great people work hard to overcome failure. When we face defeat we should think positively. As every dark cloud has a silver line. Every unpleasant memory and defeat in the end gives successful results.

Mishel Arundathi Koushalya Fernando
Grade 10-D, English Medium,
Girls’ College, Dankotuwa.

A happy day

It was a Saturday morning. I got up early and got dressed to go to Thihariya. We left home at six in the morning. We went in a van.

On the way to Thihariya, I sang songs with my cousins and played some games. We reached our aunt's place at about ten. She gave us a warm welcome.

She gave us some cool drinks and cake. After our tiring travel, the food was so welcome. Then we had a short rest.

We got up at about half past one and had our lunch.

It was so lavish and delicious. Really my aunt was a great cook. We had rice with roasted chicken, lettuce leaves, cucumber and roasted potatoes. After that marvellous meal we had ice cream. It was fantastic.

At about 3.45 p.m. we went to the children's park. We played there and enjoyed ourselves so much that we did not realise the time flying. We reached our aunt's place at forty past seven. My aunt served us tea with current buns.

We got ready to go home. It was sad. We thanked my aunt, uncle and cousins heartily for looking after us and treating us with special care. We bade good bye to them. We were unhappy to leave them.

Fahima Shahjehan,
Grade 5,
Hejaaz International School.

Myself

My name is Nuha Fathima. I am twelve-years-old. I live in Nakalagamuwa. I study in Ku/Hizbullah Central College. I am in Grade 8-A. My class teacher is Mrs. A.A. Suneetha Amarasinghe.

My father is Munaf. My mother is Rizana.

I have a brother and a sister. My favourite subjects are English and Maths. My favourite colours are green and blue. My favourite food is noodles. My favourite cricketer is Dhoni. My hobby is reading story books.

My friends are Masna, Sahira, Nuha, Murshidha, Hanufa, Najla, Rasha, Fazila, Nafha, Nusha, Nuska and Sajidha.

I like to be a lawyer.

B.M. Nuha Fathima,
Grade 8-A,
Ku/Hizbullah Central College,