Winner:

Grow more trees

“What will happen to nature will soon happen to man,” is a famous saying by the Red Indian leader Seattle. It is known to everyone of us. If we do not grow more trees the entire world will become a desert. Trees provide many things to man including fruit, shade and timber.

They also help us to maintain the biodiversity. They counteract climatic changes and control soil erosion. We must not cut down trees unless it is really necessary. What is more, we must promote tree planting campaigns.

A.H.L. Kulothma Siriwardena,
Grade 9A,
Gm/Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya.





 

Winner:

Why I like newspapers

The newspapers are a source of knowledge. They bring us a wealth of knowledge relating to sports, economy, politics, weather and great people. They also give us information on discoveries and inventions.

We read newspapers to spend our leisure time effectively. In schools we use old newspapers to make various handcraft items. In view of the above facts, I like newspapers.

Buddhini Navodya Induruwage,
Grade 9D,
Ananda Balika Vidyalaya,
Colombo 10.




 

Winner:

Beauty of flowers

Flowers are known as queens of the environment. They are colourful and beautiful. Flowers make us happy and they add beauty to the environment. When we are sad they bring us happiness and freshen our minds.

They come in many shapes, sizes, varieties and colours. Tulips, roses, orchids, anthuriums, jasmines and sun flowers are flowers we adore. Flowers maintain the bio-diversity of the area. Some flowers are used to make medicines. People use flowers to make perfumes.

Some flowers bloom during the night and most of the others bloom at day time. Flowers are useful and are used on many occasions such as weddings, funerals and religious festivals. Some take flowers to decorate rooms and buildings. Let us grow more flowers and make the environment beautiful.

A.H.L. Ruwanya Siriwardena,
Grade 5B,
Newstead Girls’ College,
Negombo.



 

Winner:

Friends

“A friend in need is a friend indeed,” is an old adage. All of us have friends of different types. Some are similar to us in many ways, while others are quite different. I like friends who are quite different from me.

Let us see the advantages of both types. Friends who are similar to us can understand us. If you are pulled up for something for which you are not responsible, a friend will advise you how to explain the facts to your superiors.

A friend who thinks differently will suggest you to ignore it.

I associate with friends who think differently because I cannot face serious problems in life. I need friends who are different to me. Tomorrow is another day.

I always want my tomorrow to be different from today so that my life can be more colourful than it is today.

Hansani Wijemanna,
Grade 10D,
Gateway College.

Winner:

The bicycle

The bicycle is a vehicle with two wheels. It does not need an engine or any fuel. It is fitted with a pedal and a chain. It has an iron frame, a comfortable seat, a handle and brakes. The tyres are made of rubber. The bicycle comes with a bell fixed on the handle.

German Draisine invented the bicycle in 1817. After inventing the bicycle most people started using it. Children love to ride bicycles. Some children cycle to school.

It is difficult to ride a bicycle on a rainy day and to climb hills. All the members of a family cannot travel on a bicycle. The bicycle is an eco-friendly, cheap vehicle.

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



 

My country

My country is Sri Lanka. It is an island in the Indian ocean. People call it the pearl of the Indian ocean. Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers live together in Sri Lanka. Buddhism is the main religion in Sri Lanka.

The Mahaweli is the longest river in Sri Lanka. The highest mountain is Piduruthalagala. Many tourists visit Sri Lanka,

The capital is Sri Jayewardenepura and the commercial capital is Colombo. The national flower of Sri Lanka is the blue water lily (Nil Manel).

The national tree is the Na tree.

Sri Lanka is a socialist democratic country. The president is the head of the country. Sri Lanka exports tea, rubber, coconut and gems. It is a developing country.

I love my country and I will always be loyal to my motherland.

N. Shamy Ahamed,
Grade 7A,
Ashraf Central College,
Irakkamam.

 

The wind unseen

Dust seems to fly high in the air,
What seems to carry it away?
The leaves fly away from the trees,
What seems to carry them away?
The windmills go round and round,
Wooo! What is that sound?

The grass along the valley rustles,
As if they are giggling.
The flowers dance in a funny way,
What seems to make them to do that way?

The birds fly as if they are drunk,
The kites dance high up in the air.
The trees that move from side to side,
Seem to have a quiet conversation,

What is this strange thing
That make everything real?
What is it that we cannot feel?
What is this cold thing
that we feel on our skin?
It is the wind!

Dilmi Nethmi Gunesekara,
Grade 9,
Brilliant Stars' International College,
Matara.

The dictionary

As children we have many difficult words which we do not know. The dictionary helps us to find the meaning and spelling of difficult words.

There are many kinds of dictionaries such as Sinhala, English and Tamil. Dictionaries help us in many ways. They help us a lot in our education. They improve our knowledge. We can improve our language skills too.

The words in the dictionary teach us many things. Nowadays there is a competition. We have to study well and score good marks at examinations. To face competition successfully, the dictionary helps us a lot.

Let us make our school life successful by using the dictionary.

Kulothma Sandali Siriwardena,
Grade 9A,
GM/Rathnawali Girls’ College.



 

Happy family

Home is a place where members of a family live together. Think of your home and see what you get and what you feel. Home is a place where you like to be all the time. It is the nicest and safest place for all of us.

All our family members live with us. They love us.

They give us protection. They provide us with basic needs.

The family is the basic unit of society. Everybody has to fulfil their duties and responsibilities towards the family. Then the family will be happy. In a family we should maintain physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being.

M.R.M. Shazny,
Grade 9,
Al-Irfan International School,
Kandy.