[Winner]

A visit to the Dutch Museum

I visited the Dutch Museum at Prince Street, Pettah. This building was the residence of the Dutch Governor, Thomas Van Rabee. It has a large collection of antique furniture. The baby crib which was made of ebony and satinwood was the cutest among all of them.

The tables, chairs and bed were used by the then Dutch Governor. The most fascinating item was the glass painting of a mother and a child, which was done with different colours including gold.

The cooking utensils were unique. There were moulds of different shapes which were used to make sweets. Sri Lankans have copied many culinary items from the Dutch.

All kinds of weapons used by them are still around. I enjoyed looking at all those items. This made me read and study the Dutch period in our history.

I wish other children too would get a chance to visit this lovely museum.

Shahira Ifthikar,
Grade 7,
U.N.H. International School,
Wattala.

[Winner]

Dr. Abdul Kalam the great

“A fool becomes a genius, when he thinks that he is a fool.”

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam known as Dr. Abdul Kalam, was bon on October 15, 1931 to a Tamil-Muslim family in Rameshwaran in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. His father was a humble boat owner, not educated but wanted Kalam to be educated. He worked hard and was brought up in a multi-religious environment. His father always quoted from the Quran. Kalam distributed newspapers in a town where there was no electricity.

Kalam was a bright student at Schwarzt High school. He had the support of his teachers. When he grew up he was exposed to look around the world in a practical way. The flight of birds which fascinated him made him to fly an aircraft and he later showed interest in aeronautical engineering. He chose Physics as a subject at St. Joseph’s College, Trichy.

Kalam understood the value of time and hard work. He cut down on his sleep and food and worked hard. He played a pivotal role in India’s Pokhran II nuclear test in 1998. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan and the Bharat Ratna award. He became the 11th President of India (2002-2007) and won the hearts of poor children in the country.

He wrote many books for the young. He was the Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and a Professor at Anna University. While delivering a lecture on ‘The Livable Planet Earth’, at the IIMS, on July 27, 2015 he collapsed and was rushed to Bethania Hospital in a critical condition. He died following a heart attack. Though he was a President at one time, he lived an ordinary life and did noble deeds.

Fathima Asma Sugendran,
Grade 7E,
Atamie International School,
Wattala.

[Winner]

Peace in my country

Today, peace is the most important thing in the world. There are various wars among nations. The United Nations tried to stop the world war with the help of other countries.

The government should pay more attention to build the country by changing the attitude of people. We can re-build our economy and become a well developed country by spreading the message of peace.

W.D.R.P. Silva,
Grade 9,
Mahanama College,
Panadura.

[Winner]

The most important exam in my life

I am a 14- year- old and do not have much experience in life. From the day you are born till you die you are busy. Your graduation is determined how you fared in the examinations. The mistakes that you make are the lessons in life. “You meet people from whom you learn something or they learn something from you.”

Those around you are teachers and you yourself is a teacher. You teach others through your mistakes and advice as you learn through the mistakes of others and of your own. Thereby you accomplish the job of both student and teacher.

However, the important examinations in your life are the GCE Ordinary Level, Advanced Level and Degrees. You need to focus on them well. The knowledge you gain and the Degrees will help you to decide on your career. Either you score higher grades and get a comfortable job or get a job for the effort you put in. All these examinations will help you till the end.

The greatest examinations in life are the easiest. You need not work out or byheart anything. The time you meet a living creature who needs a helping hand, the minute you meet a soul who needs food and money or if your mother or father turn to you for help are the time you face the greatest examination in life.

The magnanimity, compassion and honesty your heart possesses and the less you desire in your heart determine your score. The higher you score on this count, the lesser your sins become and then you earn a place in heaven. If your heart is hard like a stone and is a black hole filled with envy and hatred, then you earn a place in hell.

So decide on how you are going to face your biggest examination!

Thathsarani Wijewardana,
Grade 9,
Royal International School,
Kurunegala.

[Winner]

Teenage life

In our lives, we are teenagers at a point. Teenage life is different. This is the turning point of every teenager. We do good and bad to make the right decision.

Teenage life is fun and at times we wonder how we went through it in life. During this time we face many problems such as family matters and the society. But we as teenagers solve these problems with the help of our friends and family.

We act as adults and try to solve problems. You are not alone and if you face a problem another teenager will help you or your family.

Life is full of ups and downs and without these downs, the ups would mean nothing. Put on your seat belts and away we go to teen town!

Minethma Perera,
Grade 9 National A,
Lyceum International School,
Ratnapura.

The value of guiding

Scouting and guiding are movements that were founded by Lord Baden Powell and his wife. Guiding for girls and scouting for boys now has an important place in the education field. The motto of guides is ‘Be prepared.’ A guide has to keep in mind this at all times and she must be ready to do her duty. Guiding trains one to be unselfish, helpful and kind.

A guide should obey and respect elders. They are awarded badges if they perform well. They are given awards for cooking, first aid and swimming. Guiding is of great value in peace and understanding.

Nathali De Silva,
Grade 9,
Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy.

The elephant

The elephant is a huge animal. It can drag logs. It is big and fat and likes to eat fruits. Elephants can be seen in the zoo. It has a long trunk. An elephant has four legs, big ears and a small tail. I love elephants.

S.M. Savin Kumasaru,
Grade 3B,
M.R/ Kamburupitiya M.V.

Mammals

Humans are mammals. We share the planet with about 4,000 other species of mammals. Some are small like a mice and gigantic like a whale. Mammals were on earth around 200 million years ago. They are warm blooded animals.

Most mammals develop inside their mother’s womb rather than from hatching from eggs, They are fed on mother’s milk. The platypus and Echidna are two mammals that lay eggs. Some mammals live in water. Bats are mammals that can fly. The rest of the mammals live on the land.

Senajith Ratnayake,
Grade 11,
Prince of Wales College,Moratuwa.

My favourite singer

My favourite singer is Victor Ratnayake. He is very popular among Sri Lankans as a playback singer. He has sung over 250 songs. Among them Podi Kumari Hamine, Thani Tharuwe and Api Okkoma Rajawaru are very popular.

He has composed a number of tunes for Sinhala films. The musical show called ‘Sa’ was appreciated by everyone.

Pawani Weerasinghe,
Grade 4A,
Royal International School.