Winner:

My ambition

Ambition gets top priority in anyone’s life. A person without any ambition in life is like a ship without a rudder.

My only ambition is to serve my motherland. Therefore, I want to become a teacher. It is a noble profession and I choose this because the teacher is a person who builds the nation by educating the children. The teacher corrects our faults and guides us on the correct path.

I will teach the poor children free and show them how to become successful citizens in the future. I would give my students the best of education. What is more, a teacher is respected by society. I will be kind and grateful to all my students. I will always be honest in all my dealings. I am studying hard to get the best results. It would help me to be admitted to a university. If my ambition is to be fulfilled, I should do my best as an ideal teacher. Then I can lead an exemplary life.

Eshadi de Silva,
Grade 8,
Kanchana Priyakantha School of English and Literature,
Alutgama.

Winner:

Water pollution

Water is one of the most important natural resources.

It is a gift from God.We have 71 percent of water on the earth surface but only 0.003 percent of water can be used. Water is used to generate electricity.

The shortage of water is a problem we face. According to estimates of United Nation an acute water shortage will affect 66 countries by 2050.

Desertification, spread of diseases, climate changes and destruction of ecosystems are some of the problems leading to the water shortage.

Water is polluted in many ways. The chemicals used for agricultural and industrial purposes drain into water bodies.

According to the World Health Organisation, water pollution will lead to many diseases in 2020.

It is our duty to preserve all water resources without wasting and polluting them.

Kanagaratnam Reinurshan,
Grade 9S,
V/Vavuniya Tamil MMV,
Vavuniya.

Winner:

Flowers

There are many flowers in the world. Everywhere we can see flowers.

Flowers are beautiful and fragrant. They always make us happy. Flowers are of different colours. They are white, blue, yellow and orange. Ehela, Hendirikka and Idda flowers are found in Sri Lanka.

Flowers help people in many ways. People offer flowers to the Buddha and use them to decorate houses.They also put flowers in vases. Now there are many plastic flowers in the market. They are beautiful but have no fragrance. We can grow flower plants in our home gardens.

Dilara Sewwandhi
Grade 9
Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Nawala.

Winner:

A balanced diet for a healthy life

What is a healthy life? It means a life free of disease and a healthy mind.

Let us see, how we can gain a healthy life. It is mainly through a balanced diet.

A balanced diet consists of five main nutrients. They are carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fats and starch. Minerals also must be included in the food that we take. Nutritious value of our meals, should be the prime concern.

There are many benefits of a balanced diet. It helps in a healthy physical growth, brain development and maintain the functions of the organs.

It prevents various deficiencies which will affect our health.

Breakfast is the main meal of the day. It should not be skipped, especially by growing children and teenagers. Breakfast kickstarts the brain and improves mental and physical performance. It helps to maintain healthy body weight. Lack of concentration, lethargy and behavioural problems can be seen among students who skip breakfast.

Most of us are addicted to junk food and fizzy drinks. This may cause obesity and overweight among us.We must remember to take plenty of exercises which make the body strong and supple.

Finally, a balanced diet does not only helps to enjoy a healthy life, adequate sleep, rest, free mind and good thoughts are also very important.

M.T.F. Zahara,
Grade 8A (E/M),
Newstead Girls College,
Negombo.

Winner:

My school

My school is Lyceum International School, Nugegoda. Our school principal’s name is Ms Wenuri Hettiarachchi. My school colours are silver and blue.

The motto of our school is “Know thyself.” I love my school very much.

Zumama Hayam Zarook,
Grade 2A,
Lyceum International School,
Nugegoda.

Gardening, a good exercise

Gardening involves a number of different kinds of exercises such as stretching and weight-lifting. A study shows that you can exercise your body by raking the lawn, trimming the trees and shrubs.

Clearing bushes and stacking wood also provide good exercise to your body, equal to a light aerobics class.The “Yard care” tasks such as watering the lawn, mowing, trimming shrubs, raking, planting, seedlings, weeding, clearing land, digging, spading, tilling, laying the sod, chopping wood and turning the compose pile are good ways to get exercise.

They provide exercise for the whole body. Apart from that, gardening is beneficial for your mental health too. For many people, it is a hobby. Like other types of exercises, gardening can help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It reduces problems with heart diseases, diabetes and other diseases related to inactivity and excessive weight.

H.A. Achini Hansala Prabuddi,
Grade 8D,
Princess of Wales College,
Moratuwa.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Princess Diana was one of the most popular princesses in Britain. She was born in 1961. She was called the “People's Princess” by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Diana was educated first at Riddles Worth Hall in West Heath and then at a finishing school in Switzerland. She took up a job as a Kindergarten teacher in London.

In 1981 she married Prince Charles. Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

Anjalee Balasooriya,
Grade 5F,
Mahamaya Girls’ College,
Kandy.

My first boat journey

I decided to go in a boat when our teacher spoke about a boat journey.

The School Welfare Society decided to take the children on a tour to Galle. The society had planned to take the children on a boat ride. I was very happy because I had never taken a boat ride. My friends were also waiting eagerly for the forthcoming trip.

The day arrived and we started our journey to Galle in a private bus. All the students who had read the children's popular novel Madol Duwa written by Martin Wickramasinghe showed a keen interest to go there. This had been included by the organisers in the program. We were anxiously waiting to see the island.

I was very happy to see the boats coming from Madol Duwa. Small children were in the boats with their parents and teachers. I, together with the other children, got on to a boat. I was thrilled when the boat driver started the engine.

Our boat first went round Madol Duwa which was a small island near the Galle harbour. It was a happy event. I was pleased. Even my friends were happy. Our teachers told us not to put our hands into the water as it was dangerous. After visiting Madol Duwa, we came back and found that another boat was waiting for us. We got on to the boat. The driver of that boat was an efficient person. We went very fast without any mishap.We were able to come back to the river bank in time for lunch. I will never forget the happy journey in a boat.

K.A. Pabodha Vimarshani Gunarathne,
Grade 8R,
Tholangamuwa Central College,Tholangamuwa.

My pen

I have a ballpoint pen. It is red. It is useful to me. I take my pen to school.It is made of plastic. I write with my pen. My pen is made in Sri Lanka. It writes very well. I keep it in my box.When I want to write, it is ready to help me. It is always with me. I treat my pen in a friendly manner. I love my pen very much.

S. Sithmini Maalagoda,
Grade 6G,
Musaeus College,
Colombo 7.