Winner:

Value of education

Education is valuable. When we study, our knowledge will increase. We cannot do good jobs without education. We must concentrate on our education. We can learn about the world, health, the environment, society and religion only through education.

We know that reading helps us to be mature. Education too helps in a similar way. Education is wealth, it cannot be destroyed. Education turns enemies into friends.

In society, the educated people command respect from everyone. The reason for this is education broadens the mind. We must study well and reach greater heights. Let’s settle for education and live a valuable and meaningful life.

Zeenathul Nasriya Ilyas,
Grade 6E,
Kl/Al-Fahriya Central College,
Thotawatta, Panadura.

Winner:

What we are losing...

What we are losing,
Is what we are destroying.
The plants, animals and trees,
We are losing ourselves,
In this world of technology,
How drastically life has changed.
What we are losing,
Is what we don’t care for,
The beauty of creatures,
Sleek and sly,
Crafty but gorgeous, in every way.
What we are losing,
Is what we have needed,
Needed from the time when history began.
The light, the warmth,
Our shelter, caves or houses, sticks or stones.
What we are losing,
Is what you can say is our fault.
It is not so hard to pick up your litter,
Not to waste water, electricity or heat.
We are the destroyers, the ones to blame,
The earth has served us, we have not done the same.
What we are losing,
Is a marvel,
A wonder,
A unique place in the space among us.
What we are losing,
Is the world-our home.

Sumudi Kumarasinghe,
Grade 8F,
Newstead Wood School,
United Kingdom.

Winner:

An unforgettable trip

During the last December vacation, we visited Anuradhapura by van. Our family members and relatives took part in the journey. We left Matara early morning. We had our breakfast in a restaurant.

It was a long distance from Anuradhapura to Matara.

So, we had to travel a long distance. While we were travelling, we sang songs. We reached our destination by noon. But we were feeling a bit tired.In the evening, we went to Tissa Wewa for a bath. It was very enjoyable. We enjoyed the butterfly stroke when we were swimming in the lake and also we could bathe to our hearts’ content as the water was cold. After that, we visited the Sri Maha Bodhiya and participated in the evening pooja. There was a large gathering. We worshipped at the Ruwanweliseya and Mirissawetiya.

The following day, we climbed Sigiriya. In the ancient days, it was used as a kingdom and as a fortress too. It was built by King Kashyapa. We saw the eye-catching Sigiri Frescoes, the mirror wall and also the rock-seat. On top of the rock, we could see the picturesque scenery of Anuradhapura. We took lots of photographs near Sigiriya.

At last we bade goodbye to this prominent, ancient kingdom. The trip helped us to gain knowledge of history. There was fun and frolic too. Therefore, it was an unforgettable journey which I have never had before.

A.G. Bishani Muthumini,
Grade 12E,
Sujatha Vidyalaya,
Matara.

Winner:

God’s love and grace

Do you know who are everloving
Sons and daughters of God Almighty
Do you know it
It’s you and I and all other humans,
And we are the loveliest and the
Most gorgeous creations of God.
Do you know who feeds the
flying birds, they never die with hunger,
Do you know who it is
He is our loving Father of Heaven,
Who feeds them.
Do you know who gave my hands to
Write this poem
Do you know it
It’s my Father of Heaven who gave
My hands with a mind of creativity.
Praise my Father of Heaven who has
Done marvellous things.

Rehani Natasha Perera,
Grade 9A,
St. Jude’s College, Kurana.

Winner:

My pet

My pet is a dog. I call him Bolt, just like the dog you see on television.He likes to play with me. He has soft brown fur.

Every Sunday I wash him. I put a lot of soap on him. When he shakes himself, I am covered with soap. Then I wipe him with a towel.He loves to play with a ball. He also likes to drink milk.

Indumini Samayadasa,Year 2J,
Asian International School,
Colombo.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Yugoslavia. In 1928, she entered the missionary to work for the poor.

She was a Roman Catholic. She taught at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta for twenty years. She started as an assistant teacher and later became the Head Mistress.

During this long period, Mother Teresa learnt the Bengali language. In 1952, Mother Teresa opened a home called “Nirmal Hri Day” for the dying destitutes.

She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. Mother Teresa was a holy nun who worked for the poor till her death in 1997.

K.J. Madumitta,
Grade 9C,
Hindu Ladies College,
Colombo.

A small hut in my life

“I have loving memories
of our childhood
dreams and fun times
that we shared like
pages in a scrapbook.”

When I was spending my school time with my friends, I was dreaming to enter A/Ls, a big target. Then and there many multicoloured fingers of light got together while bright stars showed us the path to go forward.

All these fingers were alike. They were real friends. We were in our small hut learning, shouting, singing and dancing. We became a family in that hut having fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers.

We worked hard and played together having a balanced life.

But...,
Now the time has come to depart.
But our friendship will be written in that hut forever.

We all have the idea that
We can meet “tomorrow”

But I don't know when
“tomorrow” will come for us.

Anyway, we are a successful piece of the friendship play “Grade 12-B”

I wonder if you
know how important
you are to me,
it's great to know
that I can always
count on you
to care and understand
in a way no one else can.

My dear Grade 12-B friends...

P.G. Theshani Nuradha,
Sujatha Vidyalaya,
Matara.

My hobby

My hobby is reading novels. It is a very good hobby. There are many books but we must select them and read. I prefer to read 'Sherllock Holmes’ detective stories. They are very interesting.

As the saying goes, “Reading maketh a full man.” We must read good books. My mother buys a lot of books for me. I read them and make myself happy.

Thenuka Pasindu,
Grade 7A,
Gm/Thakshila College,
Gampaha.

My mother

My mother is Anoma. She is 45 years old. She is fair and has long hair. She brought me up.

She goes to work. When she comes home she helps me with my homework. Then she prepares food for us. We help her to do household work when she is at home.

She takes me to the park. I like when she is at home. Her hobby is reading the newspapers. Her favourite food is cake and her favourite colour is orange.

My mother is very kind. I love my mother.

Hasitha Kavindu Jayawardana,
Grade 4A,
Prince of Wales College,
Moratuwa.