Winner:

Modern technology

The world develops fast with time. Technology too develops with it. Modern technology in the 21st century is amazing. It has advantages and disadvantages and has changed our lives in an amazing way.

The development of technology has made life easy for the people in the world. It makes our lives comfortable and luxurious. Today modern technology is applied in many industries. It has become an essential need.

In modern technology, people’s minds have changed tremendously. As a result sometimes people do unwanted things. Money-minded people do various wrong things as there is no one to spot who did them. Many teenagers become victims of these effects.

As schoolchildren we must be intelligent and clever enough to identify the good and bad effects of modern technology. If we do so, we can use technology in a productive way.

K.M.T. Maheli Kulathunga, Grade 10A, Holy Family Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala.

Winner:

The jak tree

The jak tree is known as “the rice tree.” We find jak trees almost in every home garden. It is a big tree. The leaves are small and dark green.

Jak is an important food supplement for Sri Lankans. It is nutritious. We eat this fruit in every stage. Boiled jak and scraped coconut is a tasty meal.

Tender jak fruit is called Polos. We can prepare it as a delicious curry. The ripe jack fruit is called Waraka. Therefore, it is a valuable tree for Sri Lankans.

Tharusha Prabashana, Grade 8B, Lalith Athulathmudali College, Mt. Lavinia.







 

Winner:

Vesak festival

This year Vesak was celebrated on May 14. It is an important festival for Buddhists all over the world. Vesak marks the Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbhana.

On Vesak day Queen Mahamaya gave birth to Prince Siddhartha in Kapilavastupura. He attained Enlightenment under a Bo tree and was named Gautama Buddha.

The Buddha taught people to follow the right path and be truthful to all mankind.

Many activities are organised on this day, such as sil campaigns, poojas, dansal, pandals and lanterns. Temples are filled with many devotees who observe sil. People offer flowers, light lamps and incense and worship the Buddha. They wear white dresses and participate in many religious activities.

On this day devotees offer alms too. During this week, selling of alcohol and meat is prohibited.

Buddhists decorate their homes and arrange various cultural events on this day.

Although I am not a Buddhist, I go to temple on this day. There are competitions organised by different organisations on making Vesak lanterns in various parts of the country. Many types of Vesak lanterns are made using different materials and displayed. People go in groups to see the illuminations and decorations.

Vesak is a colourful and peaceful day.

B. Harshika, Grade 6, Kingston College International, Colombo 15.

Winner:

The importance of studying history

By studying history one gets the opportunity to learn about the human civilisation from the beginning. A man who does not know history is an incomplete person. A clear and thorough knowledge about the history of one’s motherland and the heritage is valuable.

History bonds together the past, present and the future of human activities. Similarly, a person to be a thorough and strong one, he or she should have a proper understanding of their civilisation and culture by studying the history of their motherland.

Shahira Ifthikar, Grade 6, UNH International School, Wattala.










 

Aristotle, the great philosopher

Aristotle was born in 384 B.C in ancient Macedonia. It is the present northern Greece. His father was a doctor. When Aristotle was 17 years old, he went to Athens. Athens was the biggest and richest city in ancient Greece.

He stayed in Athens for most of his life studying and teaching. He set up his own school where students discussed new ideas while strolling in the gardens.

Aristotle lived in Macedonia for sometime. He worked as a tutor to Prince Alexander, who later was known as Alexander the Great. Aristotle returned to Athens in 335 B.C. Alexander died in 323 B.C.

Aristotle, the great philosopher, was forced to leave his school in Athens. He died in 322 B.C.

H. M. Pamoda Udani Herath, Grade 7C, Kali/Saranath College.
 

Deepavali festival

Deepavali is a Hindu festival. It is celebrated by the Hindus in September. We wear new clothes and go to temple. We visit our relatives and friends.

Deepavali is celebrated in remembrance of the god who killed demons. We eat a lot of sweets and have a delicious lunch in the afternoon.

We sometimes go to the cinema to see a film. We have singing and dancing programs. We also have beautiful fireworks at night.

Tharun Srinath, Lexicon International School, Kandy.




 

Three courageous children

One upon a time, in a little village lived three children named Dick, Anne and John. The name of this village was Kingsbury. Their mother had died when the youngest child John, was still a baby. And their father, who was a farmer, took care of the children.

One day, their father became ill. Now, their father could not work to feed the children and keep them alive.

The eldest, Dick was anxious to do something. Then, he thought of finding a job for himself. So, Dick together with Anne and John set off looking for work. While on their way, they met a seller of antiques. The man asked the children where they were going. When they told him, he said, “I cannot help you, but I hope this will.” It was a map. Then the man said, “I do not know what it is, but there is a legend that it can help people. It will bring people out of danger, but it cannot be used in greed.”

Dick thought for a moment and looked at the others. They then followed the map and reached a bare land. There was nobody. Then suddenly with a heavy wind a fairy appeared. She came near the frightened children. “I have been waiting for you to come into my house and then I will tell you what to do.”

The fairy told the children that they will find a treasure in the evil magician's palace. She led them to his palace, but said that she will not be able to go in. The fairy left. Dick and John went inside, while Anne stayed outside and stood guard. Dick found the treasure. The magician had not been in and so finding it was easy. When Dick and John came out, Anne was crying. A vulture had taken the map from her. Now the children had no way of finding their way home.

They were afraid of being caught by the evil magician. They prayed and the fairy suddenly appeared. She said, “Read this spell” handing out a scroll. Dick read it and instantly they were back in their home in the village. With the treasure the children had found, they bought medicines for their father and cured him. Soon Dick found a job too.

Now, even if their father falls ill again, Dick would earn for the family. They divided the rest of the treasure among the people in the village. They had nothing to worry about thereafter.

Kiana Goonewardane, Grade 5, St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo 7.

The father of free education

Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara is considered the father of free education. Christopher William Wijekoon Kannangara was born on October 13, 1884 at Randombe, a suburb of Ambalangoda.

His father Daniel Wijekoon Kannangara was a native of Loolbaddawa of Ittepana in the Kalutara district. He was the deputy fiscal of the Balapitiya courts. His mother was Emali Wijesinghe of Weebadu Walauwa in Wewala, Hikkaduwa.

Kannangara had his education at the Wesleyan High School in Ambalangoda and Richmond College, Galle as a free scholar.

He later practised as a lawyer at the Galle Bar. He represented the Southern province in 1920 Legislative Council and the Galle district in the reformed Legislative Council of 1924. He represented the Galle constituency in the first State Council elected in 1931 after the Donoughmore reforms. At the age of 38, Kannangara married Edith Weerasooriya, daughter of the Galle Mudliyar I.C Weerasooriya of Kandy. The concept of Central Colleges was Kannangara’s greatest contribution to the development of education. In 1940, there were nine Central Colleges functioning at Minuwangoda, Veyangoda, Kattankudy, Ibbagamuwa, Dickwella and Mawathagama.

There were 22 Central Colleges by 1944. The number was increased up to 50 by 1946. Kannangara is a national hero who paved the way to both urban and rural students to receive free education. His name is already written in letters of gold in the history of Sri Lanka.

M.F. Fathima Farah, Grade 9, R/EH/Dharmapala College.

I am a big tree...

I am a big tree in a beautiful garden. Nobody is interested in looking after me now. Everybody looked after me when I was a small plant. They watered me, fed me with fertiliser and covered my roots with soil. When the wind blows, my green leaves shake, but it cannot shake my branches.

I am stronger than the other trees. In this garden, I see all the small plants moving back and forth when the wind blows hard. Most people come close to me and I give shade to them. Some come and read books and play under my shade. I always hear what they talk, some share their worries with each other. But I stand still forever bearing everything that I hear.

People write on my trunk with pencils. I bear all this happily. Not only human beings, animals also keep company with me. Birds make nests on my branches, and big birds feed their little ones on the branches. I feel sad when the birds grow up and fly away.

Do you know the secret of my long life? Treat everyone alike whoever they are and be a useful person to society.

Sahasra Weerasinghe, Grade 9, B/Viharamaha Devi Balika, Badulla.