[Winner]

The use of television

Television is a source of information and entertainment for people of all ages. It can be described as a store-house of informative and educative material for adults and children. One of its many advantages is that it provides many programs of educational value, features personalities, teachers and even children who have gained fame for their talent. Educational programs can impart immense knowledge and useful hints on how to study in school and engage in professions thus improving the world.

Information on any wildlife series gives a deep insight into the natural world around us and encourages us to be kind to animals and be more caring and careful about the environment. All important news keeps the viewers up- to- date on the events occurring beyond their homes. Cartoons are useful to children because they create an imaginary world where their ideas and imaginations can soar.

However, featuring inappropriate movies and dramas can have an adverse effect on viewers, especially the younger generation, leading to corruption of society and disruption of homes. The innocent minds of children could be spoiled making them lose concentration in studies and divert their attention.

Vignesh Ramanan,
Grade 8,
S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia.

[Winner]

A windy night

My family and I were returning home from my grandmother’s house, tired and exhausted. It was late at night. We all climbed the stairs with trembling legs. I dashed into the bedroom with my tongue lolling up and down.

After a few minutes, my whole family was in bed, snoring, but the cold wind was bothering me and I couldn’t sleep. The wind hit my face every time. It swirled past me like rockets. I swayed my head and saw that the window was open. I tightened the bed sheet around my body but the wind kept hitting my face. I tried to cover my face with the sheet, but that made it difficult for me to breathe. I pushed away my bed sheet and jumped out of bed. I gripped the window tight and shut it. Before closing it, I took a peep outside. Everything was silent. I could hear the wind whistling and the branches ruffling.

Suddenly, I spotted an old man with his umbrella which swayed back and forth. His black coat flew up and down. I felt sorry for the man. I ran downstairs and out of the house and towards the man and clutched his arm, helping him to walk. The old man’s face wrinkled up with joy. The man showed me where his house was, while I listened I helped him to walk. When we reached the old man’s house, the man gave me an old, dusty bike as a gift for helping him. I got on to the bike and rode home. I felt a wave of the wind hit me, which almost knocked me off the bike. When I reached home, I parked the bike and ran upstairs into the bedroom. I shut the open window. Everyone seemed to be asleep, I jumped into the bed and buried my face in my pillow and fell asleep.

A.Drameen R. Goonewardene,
Grade 5J,
Asian International School, Kirulapana.

[Winner]

A toothpaste speaks

I am a little tube of pure white toothpaste. I am made in a big factory in Colombo. I have many brothers and sisters. One day, a person put me and my brothers and sisters into a large box and we were taken to a supermarket in a lorry.

I stayed there for a couple of weeks. One day, a lady bought me and I was taken to her home.

Now, I am happy in my new home on a nice glass shelf. My friend is a little tooth brush. I belonged to a little girl called Mihashi. She uses me twice a day. She puts the paste on the toothbrush and then scrubs her nice white teeth until they shine. I think Mihashi likes me, as I taste nice..

K.A. Mihashi Neelika Ranasinghe,
Grade 8E,
Ave Maria Convent, Negombo.

[Winner]

A dream

One day, I went early to sleep and then I entered a dream world, as I was tired after studying. I dreamed that I was going to a garden full of lovely flowers. I plucked a flower from my home garden. Alas! There was a fairy who wore a dress which was studded with gold. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

She built a wonderful friendship with me. The fairy promised to help me on every sad occasion. I felt happy after hearing it Unfortunately, I had to exit from the dream world because my mother called me to get ready to go to school. Though I felt sad, I woke up and was hoping to relate my long and fantastic dream to my classmates in school.

While I was having breakfast, I told my dream to my mother. She blessed me saying that my dream was a nice one and it could be true. It means; when you feel sad the fairy will help you from being sad. After hearing this I was happy and waited eagerly till night to speak to the fairy again!

S.M.C.Nilakshi Samarakoon,
Grade 7D,
Girls’ High School, Kandy.

[Winner]

My favourite place

I have been to many places in Sri Lanka but my trip to China was the best. I had a wonderful flight to China. I remember how I looked at the new faces around me. I held my mother’s hand tight. My father was waiting for us at the airport in China. He took us to the hotel that we were going to stay.

It was autumn in China and it was cold, so we wore warm clothes. We travelled to many places. I made many Chinese friends. Though I could not speak the Chinese language, they spoke to me in English. We visited the Birds Nest, the Crane Tower, Great Wall, Olympic ground and Wuhun University where my father works. We ate many traditional food items which were delicious.

We visited the museum and saw the wax statues. Then we went to see the zoo, where animals showed their talents and tricks. We enjoyed, played, learned and had a lot of fun. I did not forget to take photographs and buy souvenirs of the places I visited. My father and I went to see the body of the great leader of China, Mao Se Tung in Tiananmen Square. Many people took photographs with me.

We went to the fun park which I really enjoyed. I played many games with my brother. We travelled on the express train to Beijing, the capital of China which was a wonderful experience. We went shopping and bought gifts for my family members, friends, neighbours and teachers. When I came back home I had learnt a few Chinese words during my vacation.

I enjoyed my trip to China very much and I hope to go to China again some day soon.

Sahasra Weerasinghe,
Grade 9B,
B/Vihara Maha Devi Balika, Badulla.

My best friend

My best friend is Shahani. She is 14 years old. She is fair, thin and has straight hair. Her father is a project director and her mother is a teacher. She has one elder sister.

She loves western music. She has a beautiful voice and she is very studious. She participates in oratorical competitions at school. Shahani plays the melodica for the school band team. She likes to sing and dance.

Shahani has a pet and she can run fast. She is helpful. She likes to become a teacher one day. She has good qualities. She always shares my sorrows and happiness.

I think that I am lucky to have a friend like Shahani. I wish her a bright future.

Sahasra Weerasinghe,
Grade 9,
Vihara Maha Devi Balika, Badulla.

Birds

There are many birds in Sri Lanka. Birds have wings. Some birds like the ostrich, kiwi and emu cannot fly. Some birds like the peacock have beautiful feathers.

Birds make nests to lay eggs. Birds can sing very sweetly. Some foreign birds visit our country during their winter season.

We love to watch birds. They are so colourful. I love birds.

Thusvin Liyanage,
Grade 2C,
Royal Institute International School, Nugegoda.

The storehouse of knowledge

The library is considered ‘The storehouse of knowledge.’ In dictionaries the word ‘library’ is defined as a building or room containing a collection of books.

A library renders a great service to the society. A library plays a very important role in promoting knowledge. Libraries are particularly useful for poor children who cannot afford to buy books.

A library is useful for rural youth too. There are not only books but also newspapers, magazines,periodicals and the government gazette in a library. It is a very important place for all of us.

W.D. Rukshan,
Grade 9D,
Mahanama College, Panadura.

My pet

My pet is a rabbit. It is white and it can hop.

It likes to eat carrot. I love my pet very much.

Asrouf Kamal Aaysha Shahani,
Grade 1D,
Al-Hambra M.V, Dharga Town.

Australia- Sri Lanka relations

Australia and Sri Lanka have many inter-relationships. There is a High Commission both in Canberra,Australia and Colombo, Sri Lanka. Canberra is the capital of Australia. Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake was thefirst high profile diplomatic visitor to Australia in 1951. The Australian government has expressed concern over the conflict between the government and the Tamil Tigers.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot visited Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2013. The Australian government donated two navy patrol boats to the SriLankan Navy to promote enhanced collaboration on people smuggling.

In 2007, a two-way trade agreement was created between Australia and Sri Lanka. We export tea, rubber, garments, textiles, iron and steel to Australia. Sri Lanka imports vegetables and other dairy products from Australia. Many Sri Lankan students are studying in Australian Universities. Many Sri Lankans migrate to Australia due to education, promotions and scholarships. I like Austalia very much.

Vadya Jayamanna,
Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.