[Winner]

A mother’s love

A mother’s love for her children never dies. Nothing can come close to the love that a mother feels for her children. Mothers are the greatest gifts given to us by god. She carries you in her womb for nine months with great care. When you are born, she feeds you with love and affection.

It is virtually impossible to describe or measure a mother’s love. It is a feeling that cannot be explained in words. We all have birthdays and mothers too have a special day, which is celebrated on May 10 around the world.

The most beautiful necklace a mother can wear is not made out of gold or gems, but her child’s arms around her neck.

You must love your mother, her blessings are more powerful.

I love my mother very much, more than anyone or anything else in the world.

V.Sri Jeyarupa Sharma,
Grade 10,
Chilaw International School, Chilaw.

[Winner]

Sunil Santha

Sunil Santha was a famous composer, singer and lyricist. He sang Sinhala songs. He was born in Ja-Ela on April 14, 1915 on a Sinhala New Year day. His parents died when he was a young boy and he was brought up by his grandmother. He passed the SSC examination coming first in the island.

He joined the University of Bathkanda, India where he obtained his Visharada degree in 1944, being the first non Indian to receive it. His songs such as Olu pipila and Handapane became extremely popular in Sri Lanka.

He composed songs for the film Rekawa in 1960.He died on April 11, 1981.

Dulvin Perera,
Grade 8B,
Vidura College, Colombo.

[Winner]

My future ambition

I have many ambitions in life. My main ambition is to be a teacher. It is a good profession because I can teach students and make them good citizens. The teaching profession is one of the noblest professions in the world.

I like to teach subjects such as Science, Mathematics and Sinhala. If I become a teacher, I will be kind to children and guide them on the correct path. I will not punish them.

I will teach poor and weak students free and inculcate in them good habits and fine qualities.

I will do my best to achieve my ambition.

P.V. Thasari Nawmadi,
Grade 11,
WP/HO Prajapathi Girls’ College.

[Winner]

Friendship

Friendship or companionship is built between two or more people. We need friends because it helps us to care for one another.

A friend stays with us when we are happy or sad. Good friends help each other every time and look after you. We can tell our problems to our best friends.

We should have good qualities such as kindness, love, truthfulness, honesty and loyalty to build a friendship. If you have bad qualities such as anger, selfishness and dishonesty, then it will break a friendship.

We can have companions in school and in the neighbourhood. We cannot live without a companion because every one has a friend. Whenever we have problems a friend is the best person who can help. But today there are many selfish people who think only of themselves. We have to avoid them and find good friends.

We must have a good friend because it helps us to meet challenges easily. I wish everyone has a good friend.

D.D.Sasanka Heshan Kulasingha,
Grade 8A,
Kalutara Vidyalaya, Kalutara.

[Winner]

An accident

It was a Friday evening. My mother asked me to buy a few bottles of soft drinks from the supermarket. I rode my bicycle and bought the soft drinks and went to the cashier. Suddenly, I saw a man picking the pocket of another who was purchasing goods and then ran away.

The manager of the supermarket called the police. I got scared and I collected my bottles of soft drinks and returned home. On my way I saw another incident, while I was riding, a car went past me and crashed into a mango tree. The police followed the car and arrested the person who was driving recklessly. I observed him closely and realized that he was the person who had picked the pocket of the man in the supermarket.

I rushed back home and told my parents and my brother about the incident. My father told me that god saved me.

D.M.Kasthuri Indu Dissanayake,
Grade 4B,
KU/Royal International School.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built by Emperor Shinhuangdi. It is known as the only structure constructed by man which is visible from the moon. The Great Wall is an amazing architecture.

Emperor Shinhuangdi started building the great wall in 221 B.C. He built it to protect his land from the Xiongnu people of the North. The Great Wall was improved and rebuilt during the 15th and 16th centuries. I love this place a lot and I want to visit it one day.

Tidaschandoopa,
Grade 8A,
Kottawa Dharmapala Vidyalaya.

Educational tour

An educational tour is a part of the experience in most schools and colleges. It is of great importance as it not only broadens our outlook but also enhances our knowledge to a great extent. I participated in the recent educational excursion which was organised by our school to Polonnaruwa. We visited places of historical importance in Sri Lanka.

We first visited the palace of King Parakramabahu, from there we visited the Parakrama Samudraya, Nissanka Lathamandapaya, Galviharaya, Watadageya, Galpotha inscription, Dalada Maluwa, Ata Dage and Nelum Pokuna.

After some time we moved to a shady place to have our meals and refresh ourselves with soft drinks and ice-cream. The funniest part of the journey was when the monkeys got into our buses to snatch food. They ran away as we chased them out.

Next we went to the Polonnaruwa museum where ancient artifacts were preserved. This experience made history come alive before our eyes and we got an idea of how people lived during the primitive ages.

We visited places which not only attracted the locals but also foreigners. It was a fun-filled experience for the students. Finally we made some purchases and returned to school as scheduled. We learnt a lot about Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage.

F. Aysha Musafer,
Grade 13,
Sailan International School, Negombo.

Good manners

Good manners can be defined as polite behaviour. A child starts his day at school. Every mornng when children go to school they meet their friends. They greet their friends by saying ‘Good Morning.’ It brightens the day.

Children should listen to their parents, teachers and elders. We must say, ‘Excuse me’ when you speak to somebody. Saying ‘Sorry’ when you have done some thing wrong is politeness.

This makes the other person feel good. If someone helps it is polite to say ‘Thank you.’ When you are about to leave your friend you must say ‘Good bye.’

K. G. Divya Yashmira,
Grade 5B,
Royal International School.