Education plays a major role

Winner:

Today, education has become an important part of life. When we choose a career, education is a must.

In the past, people were not well educated. With globalisation and the development of science and technology, it is important to be educated. When choosing a career, we have to show our educational achievements. All fields consider educational qualifications these days.

If we go for an interview, they will ask for educational qualifications. We have to pass the GCE Ordinary Level examination as well as the Advanced Level examination to engage in jobs.

In the medical field, we have to enter Medical College. We should pass the Advanced Level examination with good results. Then there are many examinations in Medical College also. We should work hard and must pass those examinations to do well in a career. There is competition among students when choosing a career. Education is competitive today. Most students work hard to achieve their goals.

Education is not limited to books and the syllabus. It must be an informal as well. We must have a good knowledge about how to sweep, cook and even plant. Education is an important part of society.

However, I think that education plays a major role in choosing a career.

D.K.Gavithri Dilesha

Amarasinghe,

Grade 12 CE,

Devi Balika Vidyalaya,

Colombo 8.

If I were a bird

Winner:

I'm in a mood to imagine myself as a bird. Naturally if I were a bird, I would have a small body which would be well-equipped with soft wings and feathers.

My ambition as a bird would be to fly high like any other bird. I would love to become a pet in a nice family. Here, I would be served food in a plate, water in a dish in a right royal style. 'Aha' what a life that could be for me.

Hunting for food and being frightened of bigger birds attacking me would not be a bother. If anyone gave me a healthy and relaxed life in a family, I would be free to visits any place.

Oh! God, please grant me this life, that is, if I am not asking for too much.

Shimarque Faris,

Grade 5,

Royal English School,

Matale.

An encounter with a ghost

Winner:

One dark night, as I was returning from a friend's house, I heard footsteps behind me. At first I ignored them thinking they belonged to another lonely person just like me, hurrying to get home. I thought of the warm fireside and my mother waiting for me with a hot dinner.

Suddenly, my foot knocked against a large stone and I tripped. My books fell on the road and I found myself sprawled face downwards. Cursing my clumsiness I stumbled to my feet and rubbed my knees. As I went to pick my books, I suddenly realised that there was no sound behind me. Whoever had been there had either stopped walking or disappeared. I found it odd that he had not come running to my help when I fell.

I looked back but there was only the long stretch of road. No living being was in sight. I shrugged my shoulders and started on my way. I was not far from home. Already, I could see the light of the front porch. Imagine my horror, therefore, that as soon as I started walking. I heard the footsteps again. I couldn't believe my ears and I began to feel really and truly scared.

Every horror story I had ever read, appeared before my eyes and my hair stood on end. A shiver ran down my spine and I began to run, too terror-stricken to look back, my only thought was to reach my mother's safe arms.

It was only on the next day that I heard the story of how a ten-year-old girl, while returning from her friend's house that night, had been run over by a speeding car on that road!

Haleema Binthi Aniff,

Grade 7,

U.N.H.International School,

Wattala.

Importance of learning English

Winner:

"English can be regarded as the window to the world".

English is the most widely used language in the world.

In countries such as England, the USA, Canada, Australia and in several states of Africa it is the mother tongue. In many Commonwealth countries such as Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia English is the second language.

English is important not only as an international language but also as a language of trade, as a link language as a language of mass communication, as a second language, as a language of everyday life and as a means of obtaining foreign employment.

Today the world is advanced in science and technology. Almost all books and on these subjexts are written in English. If we know English we can read and understand the facts in the books.

English is in a way an indispensable language.

S.W.H.M.D.Pabasara,

Grade 11,

Po/Lo/Dimbulagala Kashyapa MV,

Dimbulagala.

Dr. C.W.W.Kannangara

Winner:

Dr. C.W.W.Kannangara was born on October 13, 1884. He gained his primary education at the Wesleyan English High School and had his secondary education at Richmond College, Galle. He passed the Cambridge Senior in 1901. He captained the Richmond Cricket team and later became a teacher at Richmond College.

He practised Law in Galle in 1910, after passing the law examinations. He then married Edith Weerasuriya in 1922. He entered politics in 1919 and became the President of the Ceylon National Congress in 1931 under the Donoughmore Constitution. He was appointed as the First Minister of Education and was called the "Father of free education" because he ensured that all children from Grade One to the Ordinary Level should have a free education. He passed away on September 23, 1969.

Shajid Hussain,

Grade 9,

Gampola Muslim Maha Vidyalaya.

Myself

My name is Kaveesha Induwara. I live in Sulthanagoda. I am ten years old. My school is St. Thomas College, Matara. I am in grade six. My hobby is gardening. My mother's name is Pushpa and my father's name is Ajith Jayaweera. I have two sisters. My favourite colour is green.

My pet is a parrot. My favourite food is milk rice. I like to eat apple and drink milk. I love science and I want to become a doctor one day.

J. Kaveesha Induwara,

Grade 6,

St. Thomas Colege, Matara.

Penguins

A major population of penguins are found in Antartica, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. They breed in large colonies. Living in colonies results in a high level of social interaction between birds. It has led to a large repertoire of visual as well as vocal displays in all penguin species.

Penguins are black and white. Some penguins have a dull pink around their eyes. Their beaks are black,rough and bumpy in texture. Their bodies are oval shaped and their heads are the slope of a circle.

Penguins reproduce by laying eggs. Most penguins lay two eggs in a clutch although the two largest species,the Emperor and the King penguins lay only one. Their eggs are smaller than those of any other bird species when compared proportionally to the weight of the parent birds.

Their nest is made out of pampas grass and leaves. The male and female take turns sitting on the eggs until the chicks hatch. Penguins live on fish. They usually eat two to four pounds of fish each day.

Fathima Ashfa,

Sailan International School, Seeduwa.

King of windy skies

One windy day at dawn,

When sun shone merry a frown.

In the paddy field right down,

Rose a red kite.

It was striking white,

With zebra stripes.

And taillight handsomely shaped,

Oh! a fine sight.

Singing it went as a lark,

Until it was seen as a mark.

In the blue and white sky ark,

It jumped up and flew around.

Dived down with a slithering sound,

Leaving a bird almost spellbound.

Now the kite began to think,

Ain't I the one and only king.

Come everyone let's happily sing,

And rejoice at our newly crowned king.

Joy Peter Fernando,

Grade 11,

C.P.M Faith School, Wattala.

My mother

My mother's name is Deepani. She works at the Water Board. My mother is the most important person in my life. I admire my mother. She cooks all my favourite food. My mother always prepares my breakfast.

She helps me to get ready for school. She helps me with my studies and corrects all my mistakes. She helps me with my projects. She teaches me good manners and to behave with others. She also scolds me when I do something wrong. I sleep with her. She tells me good stories.

She looks beautiful in a saree. When I am sick my mother feels sad. I have the best mother in the world. I love my mother and she loves me more than herself.

Nemindu Henegama,

Grade 2-A,

Royal International School,

Kurunegala.

My invention

I invented a dream camera. It has many facilities. We can listen to music, see the time, make calls, watch movies and surf the Internet.

CDs can also be inserted into my camera. We can use the mini joystick to play games. It can be used as a recorder and it has a small fan to keep it cool.

My camera is like a robot. It cooks food for me. It has special guard and code to unlock. It is waterproof and it can take us to any place we want. A copy of a photo can be taken as soon as a picture is captured.

Pen drives or dongles too can be inserted. It is a great invention and it costs quadrillion dollars.

Vishwa Weerasinghe,

Grade 5,

Sussex College, Badulla.