Winner: My leisure time activities

Different people have various hobbies. There are many hobbies in the world. Selecting hobbies is based on personal choice. Some of the most popular hobbies are watching television, playing various games, collecting stamps, gardening, drawing, cycling, collecting coins and playing computer games.

My favourite leisure time activity is playing computer games. There are many computer games. My favourite computer games are Sanandrieas, Call of Duty, Zeek, Need for Speed, Vcop and Gtq 3. I usually play computer games after 6 p.m. My friends also join me to play computer games.

There are many advantages and disadvantages in this hobby. First of all, we can enjoy our leisure time profitably. We can also learn many things about computer games. Some computer games are very interesting. By playing them we can get to know many difficult English words. We also learn how to manage time very well. There are many disadvantages in this hobby. If we play too many computer games, we will lose our valuable time. It is not good for our studies. Some computer games are not good for our mind. They will corrupt our mind.

We should always have a time to play computer games. At the same time we should not forget to do our studies. I enjoy playing many valuable games. I invite others to cultivate the habit of playing computer games.

Hasindu Malisha Warnapura,
Grade 6A,
St. Sebastian’s College,
Moratuwa.

Winner: My ambition

My ambition is to be a doctor. I like to be a doctor due to several reasons. The first reason is that I like to treat patients. The other reason is that I can buy a new car. It is a noble profession.

I think everyone must have an ambition in life. When there’s a target it is very easy to achieve. Having an ambition is not enough. We must work hard to achieve the target with a proper plan.

I do my studies with heart and soul to be a doctor in the future.

D.M.Pasindu Prabodh Dissanayaka,
Grade 9G,
Ibbagamuwa Central College.

Trip to Ranweli

On October 25, 2013 a group of students of the British School in Colombo went to Ranweli. We were so excited because we were going to learn about nature. I want to become a zoologist when I grow up.

Ranweli had two adventures waiting for us. There were two groups. Group one went on a boat ride and the others went on a nature walk.

I like walking on dangerous tracks. Ranweli was an amazing destination.

Anjali Kumarihamy Karalliyadde,
8 years,
Colombo British School,
Colombo 8.

Winner: A blackout

“Trapped” was the word that came into my mind. Would you like to know what happened?

I was playing with my friends on the beach and suddenly I felt very inquisitive. I saw a cave and walked up to it. It was covered with ivy all over it.

I wanted to check whether smugglers really stayed in the cave. I walked inside to have a look. Just guess what happened? “Slam” a rock blocked the entrance of the cave. I was shocked for a moment. Then I felt like turning around. “Bang” a pole just hit me. Everything went black. I became unconscious.

Rakesh Ratnasingham,
S. Thomas’ College,
Mt. Lavinia.

Should women go out to work?

This is a common topic we talk in modern society. There are many job opportunities such as housemaids, labourers and government service for women. With the development and rising cost of living nowadays women seek employment. I think women should go out to work.

Most of the women in modern society are very intelligent and educated. If they do not work, their abilities and knowledge will be wasted. There are many advantages in doing a job. They can get a salary for their work. It is a great contribution to the country.

Some women do not know the limits when they go to work. Because of this, we hear many unpleasant incidents involving women. They should always think about the purpose of doing a job. If they do not consider this, their children and the home-front will be neglected. Some spend a lot of money on clothes, transport and domestic expenditure. We hear of broken families because of the bad behaviour of some women who are employed. Some are burdened with work. These are the disadvantages of women being employed.

If a woman does her duty as a mother and wife, she can always work.

D.K. Gavithri Dilesha Amarasinghe,
Grade 11P,
Ke/Dudley Senanayake Central College,
Tholangamuwa.

Winner: Birds

We can see birds almost everywhere. Some are very beautiful. They are different in colour and size. Birds have special abilities. Some of them can sing. They have wings to fly.

Birds can fly thousands of kilometres. Some birds cannot fly. The ostrich is one of them. Birds make the environment beautiful. I love birds.

Dilmi Shehani de Soyza,
Grade 4A,
NCEF Buddhist College,
Mulleriyawa New Town.

The robot

The robot is a machine. It is very helpful to man. There are many kinds of robots in the market.

Do you know who is the robot in this picture?

It is me Shihad Umar of Colombo Zahira, College.

I took part as a robot in the fancy dress parade in our school sportsmeet.

Shihad Umar Nafees,
Grade 1 'Daisy’,
Zahira College,
Colombo 10.

The Horton Plains

The Horton Plains includes high mountains that stand at approximately 1,800 metres to 2,300 metres above sea level.

Most of the times they are covered with mist and early in the morning it is a beautiful site to watch.

Many of the waterways start from this area. The World's End is a popular destination of sightseers.

F. Aysha Rasheed,
Grade 10B,
Amana International School,
Kolonnawa.

The CHOGM program in our school

CHOGM stands for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It is held once in two years and this was the first time it was held in Sri Lanka. It was started on 1997. It was a great boost and encouragement to our country. To mark this event our teachers and students organised a program by making students represent the 53 countries of CHOGM. All students and teachers practised and worked together within a week and made the program a success.

The program was held on November 13. We began with the reciting of verses from the Holy Quran followed by a speech on the importance of CHOGM. There was a colourful pageant of children dressed in costumes of people from Asia, Pacific region, Africa, Europe, Caribbean countries. I too participated in the event. I represented Jamaica. I was so nervous because the audience was enjoying when they saw the participants dressed in different costumes.

There was a group of boys who represented Africa. They blew a long pipe which emitted smoke. The most eye-catching item was the Haka of the boys who represented New Zealand. Many participants spoke in the language of the country they represented. One of my Maldivian schoolmates spoke in Diveli. Another spoke in Tonga. The audience enjoyed it very much. The dances, make-up and dresses were all so fascinating to watch.Finally, we sang the national anthem and it was an exciting and happy day for everyone. It made us recognise the culture and dresses of other countries.

I wish that there would be CHOGM in every member country of the Commonwealth as it would be a great benefit for them, just as it did to us.

Umar Kamil Marikkar,
Grade 6A,
Hejaaz International School,
Mt. Lavinia.