Winner:

Travelling

I like travelling because it brings me joy. I arrange trips with my friends to many places such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Matara and Colombo.

I hope to go to America for my higher studies. My ambition is to be a doctor, so that I could go to another country. Then I can meet different types of people. It will help me to develop my knowledge.

In our country, many people travel by bus or three-wheeler for official work. It is a common mode of transport in our country. In the city many people travel to their work places by train. I too go to school by train.

Travelling helps me to develop my knowledge and so I get good marks at the school term tests. Travelling also helps people to identify places and roads.

When students go on trips, I love to join them, because it gives me pleasure to be with my friends. I like travelling very much.

Rashi Yashodha Kalpani Rajapaksha,
Grade 9A, Udadumbara Secondary School.

Winner:

My after-school activities

I study at V/Nedunkerni Maha Vidyalaya. After school, I come home and have lunch. Then I attend evening classes. On the other days, I do my studies at home and do gardening, play games and help my parents.

When I am free I read story books in Tamil and English. I read newspapers too. In the evenings I ride my bicycle. When I get back home, I have a wash and take a rest.

I never fail to do my studies. I have dinner around 8 o’clock. I study till 10 o’clock and go to bed and have a peaceful sleep.

D.Majurika,
Grade 6, V/Nedunkerni MV, Nedunkerni.

[Winner]

Take a balanced diet

Food is what we eat everyday. We have three main meals such as breakfast, lunch and dinner. We eat food because we feel hungry and to grow strong and be healthy.

Food is divided into carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, fat and minerals. We must have a balanced diet which includes all these categories for our growth.

We should eat our main meals everyday.

W.W.W.Senal Rithmina Fernando,
Grade 4 LEB,
Alethea International School,
Dehiwala.

[Winner]

Superstition has no rhyme or reason

Superstitious belief has no reason. Superstition is the ‘daughter’ of ignorance and fear. The word literally means “standing still” - in fear or awe of something.

In religion, superstition means irrational fear of mysterious and unknown objects which suddenly appear. Ignorant savages have no scientific knowledge of what we call the forces of nature. They think the sun, the moon, fire, wind and water are governed by supernatural beings.

These are the superstitious items they fear and worship and try to propitiate suspicious figures.

As knowledge grows, superstition fades and today we laugh at such beliefs and fears as follies of childhood. But superstition fades away and however, in civilised countries today superstition still lingers.

We still find people who think number 13 is unlucky, and will not walk under a ladder and there are those who will not start a journey on a Friday.

Superstition is responsible for cruelty, misery and misunderstanding among ignorant people. During ancient times, men offered human sacrifices to appease imaginary gods.

In the middle ages in Europe belief in witchcraft led to the persecution of poor old women, who were suspected of having sold their souls to the devil.

The Spanish inquisition tortured and burnt thousands of people who were disturbed by superstition.

Superstition darkens the mind. It hates to look at knowledge in the correct way. As knowledge increases, superstition decreases. Science, which has discovered the real nature of forces that move about by wind, water or rain has the power of frightening very young minds.

It has also gained knowledge and wisdom.

Mariano Pakianathan,
Grade 11,
St. Benedict’s College,
Colombo 13.

[Winner]

Jules Verne– a distinguished author

“Whatever one man can imagine, other men will someday bring to pass.” When you hear this quotation, your mind goes back to Jules Verne. Most of us know about him because he is a famous author. I read his books as he is my favourite author.

Jules Gabriel Verne was born on February 8, 1828 in France. His father liked to see Verne as a lawyer when he grew up. But Jules Verne’s mind was full of humanity. So, he produced creative writings to the world.

Later on, he became a French novelist, poet and a playwright. He also had a great influence on the literary genre of science fiction. He was known as “The Father of Science Fiction.”

He gave many translations in foreign languages to the world. In 1979, he was recognised as the second author with the highest number of translations.

He wrote many adventure novels such as ‘A Voyage in a balloon’ in 1852, ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ in 1864, ‘From the Earth to the moon’ in 1865, ‘Twenty thousand leagues under the sea’ in 1870 and ‘Around the world in 80 days’ in 1873.

Of them, I have read ‘Around the world in eighty days’ and ‘Round the moon.’ Both were interesting and enjoyable. They surprise the reader and I think, there was courage, throughout the stories. The book showed Jules Verne’s idea and concept.

He wrote nearly a 100 books. He died on March 24, 1905. Some of his books were published after his death. It showed his unlimited creative power. However, I think his books and memories of his past, will remain forever.

D.K.Gavithri Dilesha Amarasinghe,
Grade 12 CE,
Devi Balika Vidyalaya,
Colombo 8.

Environmental pollution

The world is changing day by day. The increasing population has resulted in building more and more houses. The environment has to be sacrificed to create more habitats for humans.

The environment as we know is subject to pollution daily. Environmental pollution occurs mainly through three way air, water and land. The change of state of the atmosphere which in turn is harmful for humans is called air pollution.

Basic human activities are the fundamental cause for air

pollution. Cars and other vehicles produce harmful carbon monoxide which destroys the ozone layer and increases the chance of global warming.

Water is also another aspect of pollution. Various chemicals used for agriculture accumulate in waterways and streams which kill aquatic fauna and flora. Liquid waste from chemical factories is another cause for this catastrophe. Land pollution also occurs due to them.We must help in environmental conservation. Switching off a light bulb may be helpful. We must conserve our environment for the survival of the human race. Let us support environment conservation.

Thejana Edirisinghe,
Grade 10,
Nalanda College.

Novel experience

One day I heard the postman ringing the bell at my door. I came out running to collect the mail. He got my signature and delivered a registered letter. It was a cheque for Rs.100,000.

I ran all the way to the bank to get the cheque cashed. There was a long queue in the bank. When I got my turn I signed the cheque and submitted it to the counter clerk.

He fed the details into the computer and looked at me and said that it was a fake cheque. I got angry and stamped my feet. I banged the door of the bank. I started to shout aloud.

Suddenly I felt somebody shaking my shoulders. It was my mother. She asked me if I had been dreaming. I felt a little ashamed. Then I realised that everything was only a dream.

Sehan Harshana,
Grade 8E,
G/ Mahinda College, Galle.

My best friend

My best friend is Iwalya. He is ten years old. Iwalya likes to go to school. Both of us go to the same school.He likes to swim a lot.

There are four members in his family.He has one sister and he doesn't have any brothers. He is kind. His favourite subject is mathematics. Iwalya is good in English. His favourite colour is red.

Iwalya likes to eat noodles and likes to drink water. His ambition is to become a doctor and serve the country.

I wish him all the best and I love him a lot.

Sithika Ravin Silva,
Grade 5F,
St. Sebastian's College,
Moratuwa.