Winner: Family bonds

The family is the smallest unit in society. A strong family makes the world a better place. Our family bonds play a major role in our lives. It is a deep attachment between family members. It lasts forever.

Strong family ties depend on love, affection, caring and sharing. In the past, family bonds were strong but now they are weak. If family bonds are strong, children will be good, selfless and ready to help each other.

Family bonds do not depend on wealth. They exist from birth to death.

B.W. Sanduni Jayanga Sathsarani,
Grade 12,
WP/Ke Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya,
Kiribathgoda.

Winner: Let’s not pollute water resources

Water is important for our daily needs. Not only people, animals and plants also need water. We can get water from the sea, rivers, ponds, wells and rain. We use water for drinking, bathing, washing clothes and cultivation.

Water gets polluted in many ways. We should drink clean water. We can purify water by adding chlorine, filtering and boiling.

If we drink impure water we suffer from many diseases such as cholera, hepatitis and dysentery. We should not pollute water.

M.S.M. Makarim,
Grade 4,
Wesswood College,
Katugastota.

Winner: Innovation

In ancient times man used stone weapons for his daily needs. But now we are in the digital age because of scientific and technological innovation. During ancient times, man used fire, bow and arrows, a man with a drum, birds and hooting to communicate with others. Now we have got highly advanced communication systems. We can see what is happening even in space.

The computer and the internet are doing a great job. Earlier fire was used only for cooking and burning, but now, we use it for many things such as power generation.

Because of innovations we can do things much quicker and in an easier way than earlier. Ancient people suffered from various illnesses, but now we have medicine to cure them.

Technological revolution has produced certain unhealthy results as well such as cutting down trees and destroying forest cover. As a result, we get less rain today.

W.A.Pasindu Anjana Weerakkody,
Grade 5A,
Royal International School,
Kurunegala.

Winner: The fauna and flora of Sri Lanka

Though Sri Lanka is a small island, there is great diversity in wildlife. Many species are endemic. There are many wildlife reserves, nature parks and sanctuaries throughout the country.

The Sri Lankan elephant is one of the three recognised subspecies of the Asian elephants. According to the 2011 elephant census, there are about 5879 elephants in the country.

The world’s first elephant orphanage is in Pinnawala, a popular attraction.

Our national bird, the Sri Lankan Jungle fowl, also known as the Ceylon Jungle fowl, is a member of the pheasant family endemic to the country.

There are 24 wildlife reserves in Sri Lanka. Some of them are Sinharaja, Yala, Wilpattu and Minneriya. Wilpattu is the largest wildlife reserve in Sri Lanka in the North Western Province. Many insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are endemic to Sri Lanka.

Two animals commonly seen in the Sinharaja forest reserve and Horton Plains National Park are the purple faced Langur and the Horton Plains Slender Loris.

Many local and foreign tourists visit these sanctuaries to see their lifestyles and behaviour.

Fathima Ameera Dilshard,
Year 5,
Methodist College, Colombo 3.

Winner: My mother

My mother is a precious gift given to me. From my small days she was my guardian. She took care of me and brought me up. When I have a problem she is the first person to advise me. She is the most beautiful person in the world.

My mother’s name is Atputhamalar which means beautiful. She is 45-years-old. She is strong and works hard. She was born in the Delft island in the North of Jaffna. When she was a teenager she became a cycle race champion several times. She gave up racing when she was defeated by another competitor.

When I was five-years-old, I was suffering from pneumonia and my mother took me to many doctors. Finally she took me to a private hospital where I was treated successfully.

She cooks tasty food and encourages me to study well.

Prasath,
Grade 8,
Kingston College International,
Colombo 15.


 

An accident

I saw an accident on my way to school recently. While I was walking from the bus stand, a pink car came at a high speed. A cyclist came from a by-road riding carelessly.

The car hit the cyclist and he was thrown aside. He was injured and the bicycle was damaged. Many people gathered and they rushed the victim to hospital.

Lashini Aloka,
Grade 7A,
Lourdes’ College,
Nattandiya.

My favourite park

The Viharamahadevi Park is my favourite park. It is in Colombo. The park has two sections. There is a beautiful playground in one section with swings, sliding bars and mat slides.

There are horses too. Children can go on a horse ride. In the other section there are various joy rides. There are bumpy cars, jets, merry-go-rounds and trains.

One day my brother and I went to the Viharamahadevi Park. We played on the slide and on bumper cars. I love this park very much.

W. W. W. Rithmina Fernando,
Grade 3,
Alethea School,
Dehiwala.

My mother

My mother's name is K. Kumuda. She is 43-years-old. She likes to eat oranges.

My mother is very beautiful. I play with her everyday. I love my mother very much.

Karunaharan Himailan,
Grade 3D,
Chilaw/Karukkuwa Sugathananda Maha Vidyalaya.

Myself

My name is Aamilah Mumtaz. I am six-years-old. My mother's name is Fawmiya. My father's name is Mumtaz.

My favourite sweet is chocolate. I like to eat apples too.

Aamilah Mumtaz,
Darool Uloom Academy.

A carnival

It was a sunny and warm day. My family members and I went to a carnival. When we went there it was full of shining lights. I was excited to touch them, but my mother did not let me do so.

We first went to a musical show. We were happy and we danced. Then my mother and father laughed. After dancing we were tired. We drank fresh orange juice. It was tasty. Then we went on a plane ride. I screamed fearing that the plane would come down.

Then we went horse riding. There was a song titled 'Are you sleeping.’ Then our friend Kavya too came.

We went on a train ride with our parents. When we sang our parents gave the three of us ice-cream. We enjoyed the day at the carnival and returned home tired but happy.

Ehansa Arunadee,
Grade 4A,
Lyceum International School,
Panadura.

My hobby

My hobby is reading. Reading is a good habit. We can read books, newspapers and magazines. We can gain knowledge by reading. We learn about the world, people, cultures, environment and space by reading. We can improve our language skills as well.

Today most of the children do not read. They are interested in watching television and surfing the internet during their leisure time. It is a bad habit. The reading habit should be cultivated among school children.

Sharmitha Sethu,
Grade 6A,
Greenhill International College,
Kandy.