Winner:

Science in everyday life

Man is curious by nature and wants to investigate the cause of everything. As a result, scientific thinking and investigations have developed. Man started probing the mysteries of nature in to discover the laws governing nature.

With the passage of time, we started applying scientific investigation to other fields of life as well. In other words, scientific activity in the initial stage was for its own sake but later on inventions and discoveries were made to make life more comfortable and happier on earth.

Thus man started harnessing science for personal use. Modern man has become so much dependent on science that it is impossible for him to live without it.

Right from the plastic surgery and from a common pin to rocket, we have used science. Man wakes up with the help of mechanical devices. Working during the day with the help of various scientific discoveries and inventions we return to an air-conditioned house to relax.

Modern man cannot imagine passing a few hours in the scorching heat of summer.

The day-to-day life of man has become extremely comfortable. Man does not have to walk. He has so many other modes of travel. Man does not have to struggle to grow his food. With the new methods of science he can get the production of food increased.

Science is an intrinsic part of our life.

A Sajeer,
Grade 7,
Muslim Madya Maha Vidyalaya,
Sammanthurai.

Winner:

My favourite author

There are many great authors in the world. People admire authors such as William Shakespeare, Thomas Hughes and Charles Dickens. But my favourite author is Enid Blyton.

She is a great British author. She was born in London on November 28, 1897. She was the eldest daughter of Thomas Caray. She was educated at St. Christopher’s School in Beckenham from 1907-1915.

On August 28, 1924 she married Major Hugh Alexander Pollock. They moved to Bourns End Buckinghamshire. She had two children, Gillian Mary Baverstock and Imogen Mary Smallwood. She died at the age of 71.

She was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and was moved into a nursing home three months before her death. She died at Greenway Nursing home in London on November 28, 1968 and was cremated at Golder’s Green crematorium where her ashes remain.

She wrote books such as Secret Seven and Famous Five. She wrote novels, adventure stories, involving magic and solving crimes. Her books were sold all over the world. She wrote 21 books in the Famous Five series.

I love her very much. If you happen read her books you will also love her very much.

Buwanajith Dissanayaka,
Grade 7E,
St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy.

Winner:

A visit to Dubai

My mother, brother and I planned to visit Dubai where my father, aunt and uncle lived. We packed our suitcases with clothes and other items and waited impatiently for the day. On December 18, 2011, we hired a cab and went to the Bandaranaike International Airport at half past ten in the night. However, I was not feeling sleepy.

We waited in a long queue to put our suitcases for security checking. We walked around the airport, looking for the gate to our plane. The plane was Mihin Lanka. It was a budget plane. I was so happy when I boarded the plane. After some time plane took off. The lights were switched off. I looked out of the window and felt dizzy. It was dark and cold inside. Everybody was sleeping but I did not fall asleep.

I was looking through the window until morning. At last, the plane landed at the Dubai International Airport early in the morning. We took our suitcases from the unloading zone. Then, I saw my father waiting for us. He was very happy to see us. He drove us in his car. We had dinner and drove back to his apartment.

A Raihan Ajees,
Grade 5,
Hejaaz International School.

Winner:

The moon

The yellow big ball,
In the sky,
It is so high,
How is it called?
She has thousands of babies,
Yellow nice babies,
They are so small,
How are they called?
Every night, I see them,
High and high,
But I cannot touch them,
How beautiful they are.
But, I see the sky every morning,
They are not in the sky,
I was so sad,
How is it called?
But then I realised the truth.
Angelica Thilini Weerasingha,
Brilliant Stars International College,

Nupe, Matara.

Winner:

Do children obey their parents?

The first teachers are our parents.

Let us see who are parents? Simply, we define our father and mother as our parents. There are no words to describe our parents. They are precious. They dedicate their lives to us. Soon after the confinement of the baby the mother has to protect it. Sometimes, she cannot do things as she wants to. She cannot eat as she likes or dress as she wants. She sacrifices her desires on behalf of the child.

I think the happiest news for a married couple is that they are going to be parents. From the day they hear this news they are looking forward to the birth of the baby. The mother takes the hardest pain in the world to give birth to the baby. She gives her blood as milk to the baby.

This is only the beginning of their dedication towards us. With the growth of the child, the next target of the parents is to give a good education for the child. They always try to find a good school for their child. The hope of every parent is to make their children achieve a perfect goal.

Unfortunately, when they become young and achieve their goals they do not respect their parents or obey them. This is due to the modernised society and technology. At present the values, morals, good habits and ethics have been neglected.

For example, parents take their children to tuition classes from the day they start going to school. They do not have the freedom to talk to their brothers and sisters and play with them. Parents always force them to do their studies. They only have the knowledge of books.

They do not know anything about society. Children have to sit Grade V scholarship, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examinations. Sometimes the majority of parents are employed and they do not have the time to spend with their children and talk to them. They always give money to their children whenever they ask for it.

At present the children do not care about their parents. They only need money. They always try to fulfil their needs by making them afraid and by quarreling with them. They never understand the value of their parents and how they earn. The parents are our first teachers, guides, counsellors, reformers and disciplinarians. We must listen, obey and respect them.

We must treat them and look after them well as they did when we were small. Our parents are the gods in our home. We must worship them in the morning and at night. We must take care of them and protect them like our eyes.

H.M.D. Isuri Dulmini,
Grade 13G,
Anula Vidyalaya,
Nugegoda.

How I spent my birthday

I celebrated my birthday in February. From my childhood, I celebrated my birthday on a grand scale. Last year, I changed the idea.

When I was going to school one day, I saw two street children sleeping on the pavement.

I decided to help them. I came home and told my mother about my idea. She asked me whether I would like to celebrate my birthday at a Children’s Home.

At first I did not agree with her because I wanted to spend my birthday with my friends. But later on I decided to celebrate my birthday at a Children’s Home. I told my friends about my new idea and they also agreed with me.

On my birthday we reached the children's home at 9.30 a.m. My mother made a delicious birthday cake and we cut it there. All the children wished me. My family, friends and I sang, danced and enjoyed very much. We spent nearly five hours there.

We distributed the food, clothes and gifts among the children. I thought that I must make them happy again one day.

When I came home, I had a huge surprise. There were lots of birthday presents in my room. Wow! I was overjoyed and thrilled. This was one of the most unforgettable birthday parties that I have ever had.

Harshini Udugama,
Grade 12,
Holy Cross College,
Gampaha.

My school

My school is Ak/Munawwara Junior College, Akkaraipattu. It is a leading school in Akkaraipattu.

Our school has a large building and there are classes from the primary to the Advanced Level.

Our school has a western band and sports activities such as athletics, netball and hockey. There are two teams, senior and junior.

Our principal is A.G. Anwer. He is like a father to all the children. The vice principal is Thaha. He is liked by everybody.

My class teacher is Rooby. She is one of the popular teachers I have had.

I love my school.

N. Aadhila Kuthab,
Grade 6E,
Ak/Munawwara Junior College.

My favourite hobby

I have many hobbies. Reading story books, collecting stamps, gardening and badminton are some of them.

My favourite hobby is badminton. I like badminton and I can play it well. I play badminton every evening with my brother.

I am in the school badminton team and I am the best player. I have won three gold medals in badminton. I started to play badminton when I was 12 years.

I like badminton very much and I enjoy it.

D.A. Bhagya Madhubhashini,
Galagama Gedara,
Nadugala, Matara.