Winner:

A great writer

Martin Wickremasinghe was born in a village. It is about two kilometres away from Koggala.

He studied only up to grade eight. He did not have a university degree. But he is considered as one of the greatest writers in the country. He could speak and write in many languages.

He wrote books on different subjects. He was a versatile scholar. He wrote short stories and novels. Gamperaliya was a high water mark in Sinhala literature.

He wrote books on Buddhism, literature, fine arts, history and science. The first science book was written in Sinhala by Martin Wickremasinghe.

He introduced new words to the Sinhala language. He gave a new shape to Sinhala literature. He imbibed many things from the rural society.

When we read his books, we feel the smell of the rural life. Martin Wickremasinghe published about 80 books.

Apart from that, he wrote thousands of articles to newspapers. People such as Martin Wickremasinghe are a blessing to our country. His memory will remain for generations.

Hirudika Kanchana Withana, Grade 8C, Bandarawaththa Parakrama M.V., Gampaha.
 

Winner:

A day in the life of a gardener

I love to do gardening on Sundays, a day that others prefer to hike, bike, walk or relax. I do gardening in the morning and relax in the afternoon. Then I return to my gardening chores till late in the day.

I slump on the nearest chair exhausted. I think back, my day exercising all day.

No, I was not exercising, I was gardening for a good part of it weeding, mowing and raking.

I enjoy gardening and it is free. Isn’t it fitness supposed to cost money? Don’t I need to go to a gymnasium. It has taken me almost half of my life to discover a fabulous gymnasium outside my door.

Raking is like using a rowing machine. My exercise machine is the digger, shovel, rake, push mower and the wheelbarrow. My running track is the yard and the garden.

Ayesha Iromi, Grade 8H, Walisinghe Harischandra College, Anuradhapura.
 

Winner:

The coconut tree

The coconut tree is very useful. In Sri Lanka, we can see coconut trees mostly in the coastal areas. There are many uses of the coconut tree. No part of the tree is thrown away without using.

Coconut leaves are used to thatch the roofs of houses. The trunk is used for timber. It is used as beams and rafters when constructing buildings.

The coconut is used by people while its husk is taken and extracted into coconut fibre and coir which are very essential in making brooms, rugs, ornamental items and in agriculture.

The coconut shell is used to make spoons, produce charcoal and to make various kinds of ornamental items.

The coconut flower is being used to produce treacle. The dried coconut spathe which protects the flowers of the coconut tree when it is tender, helps us in lighting the hearth. The coconut frond is used to make ornaments and also lighting the fire.

Coconut refuse is used to mop the floors and for decorations. It is used in providing fodder for animals. The coconut seed which we also call ‘the fruit’ produce a new plant.

The coconut tree is a very useful tree to our country. Especially, being a tropical country, it is easy for us to grow.

Therefore, it can be considered an amazing gift of nature to Sri Lanka.

J.M.D.J. Sheron Jayamanna, Grade 9-7, Holy Family Balika M.V., Wennappuwa.
 

Winner:

A dream

On a dark night
You came in a dream
A lovely mum
Calling me ‘Sudu duwa.’
I believe she is my light,
For the darkness of my world,
You are my hope,
And the only wish for you ‘Sudu Ammi.’

Jithmi Rinushika, Grade 5A, Lyceum International School, Nuwara Eliya.
 

Winner:

The parrot

The parrot is a beautiful green-coloured bird. It has a curved and strong red beak.

Some parrots learn to imitate what they hear and they can speak a few words.

People keep parrots as pets not only in our country, but also in other countries.

There are people who allow them to live freely and some keep them in cages. Keeping them in cages is not a good practice because if we forget to feed them they will die.

We must not hinder the freedom of any type of bird or animal by caging them.

As children, we must learn to let them live in their natural surroundings. I love all birds.

A.R. Sana, Grade 7, Ak/Munawwara Junior College, Akkaraipattu.
 

Let's grow more food

Food is essential for man to live. Food can help to increase the life time. Everybody works hard to find food. Ancient people grew food for their needs. There are different requirements such as clothes, food and education. Among them food is important to man. The main occupation of our ancient people was agriculture.

But, in the modern world man is very busy. He has no time even to have his food. Many people take instant food as a habit. Instant food has caused various diseases. It is harmful to our health. There is a necessity for fresh food. Now there is a demand for vegetables, fruit and home-made food. We have to grow more food to meet this demand.

In the home garden you can grow different vegetables, such as pumpkins, long beans, brinjals, tomatoes and chillies to name some.

The Department of Agriculture can encourage the people to grow more food by having “Garden Competitions”. Some examples are “Shoora Goviya” and “Api Wawamu - Rata Nagamu”. We can launch a project to grow more food.

The Government can give seeds, fertiliser and free instructions to people. We can encourage students to grow vegetables in the school garden.

As students, we can maintain a home garden. By doing so we derive immense pleasure, good health and energy.

We can export food by cultivating. We can save a lot of money and lead a well-balanced life.

If we grow more food by 2018 our country will be self sufficient.

B.K.T. Harshika Rodrigo, Grade 12, St. Mary's M.V., Uswetakeiyawa.
 

Animals

Animals are creatures like us
But they cannot speak, like us,
Some people keep animals as
Pets but not all.
Animals are divided into
Three groups and
There is one that only eats meat,
One that eats only grass,
And one that eats both meat and grass.
They say that the lion is the most
Powerful animal in the jungle.
In the world there are more
Than two million species of animals.
Did you know the first animal in space
Was a dog and it was a female dog.
And did you know that the blue whale
Is the largest animal that is living now.
Many girls think animals are
Cute, so do boys I think animals are cute.
But remember, you can
get asthma if you stay near them for long.

Janushayan Ganeshamoorthy, Grade 5A, British School.
 

Humble as a flower

A flower bloomed from the mud, is not accepted much
But a flower bloomed from the soil, is always accepted as a King.
A flower bloomed from the mud, is light hearted as she grows.
And the flower bloomed on the soil, is not to be found as it blows.
So dear friends be humble as you grow,
On the top you will shine as a flower, from the mud it grows.

M.M.D.C. oshadhi, S. Thomas College, Guruthalawa.