Winner: An autobiography of a scorpion

I am a scorpion. I have a brown coloured body and live in a village. People are afraid of me. Whenever they see me they try to kill me.

One day, while I was hiding close to a sack of rice, a woman came in a hurry to take out some rice, but she came close to kill me, I stung her before she could kill me.

When her two little daughters saw their mother fallen they shouted out and called out for their father. he took her to hospital but nobody came in search of me.

P.S. Umayangani Chamodya de Silva, Grade 10B, Gamini Dissanayake National College, Kothmale.

Winner: Stamps

Stamps are used to pay for the postal service when mailing letters and packages.

It was invented by an English school master named Rowland Hill. In Sri Lanka stamps are issued by the Postal Department and sold at all post offices.

Postage stamps have different values with pictures on them. People also collect stamps as a hobby.

Nathan Adrian Rohan Amath, Grade 4, Highlands College, Maharagama.

Winner: Global warming

One of the major problems in the world is global warming. Many scientists feel that the production of Carbon Dioxide and other green house gases have a heating effect on the atmosphere, which could be dangerous to human life.

There are several things we can do to solve this problem. One is to stop producing Carbon Dioxide.

We can do this by switching from oil, coal and gas to renewable energy.

Another solution is to plant trees, which absorb Carbon Dioxide and produces Oxygen, which is not a greenhouse gas.

The third is to use less energy and recycle more products.

If we make minor changes now, we can avoid major changes in the future.

Maariyah Rizwan, Grade 8, Ilma International Girls’ School, Colombo 4.

Winner: I yearn to be a doctor

A person without a profession is like a bird without feathers. People have different professions and each person selects a profession depending on his or her wish. Some want to be rich while others want to be a leader, teacher, pilot, engineer or architect.

My ambition is to become a doctor. I want to be a doctor as I could help the sick and the poor. In order to become a doctor I will study hard and achieve my target. If we work hard, we can achieve our targets.

Sachithra Sandeepani, Grade 6, Ashoka College, Horana.

Winner: My favourite hobby

Life without a hobby is like food without salt. Hobbies make life interesting. It is a pursuit outside one’s regular work. A hobby gives one, joy and pleasure and one does not get tired of it.

It is a pastime and a form of relaxation. A person can learn something and can make good use of his time. There are many hobbies such as drawing, reading, painting, gardening, collecting stamps and watching television.

I selected reading as my hobby to spend my leisure meaningfully. Reading is popular among people. It improves one’s language skills in English, Tamil and Sinhala. There is a saying ‘Reading maketh a full man.’ Reading helps us in numerous ways. I have improved my vocabulary by reading. And remember the saying “If we read today we are the readers. But tomorrow we are the leaders.”

Hasma Illiyas, Grade 7, Mukarramah International School.

The newspaper I enjoy reading

There are thousands of newspapers published throughout the world but what I love to read most is the Junior Observer, which is issued free with the Sunday Observer.

Not only me, but also most of the young people in Sri Lanka and abroad read this new paper as it has a variety of articles. This newspaper helps students to improve their knowledge in English.

I eagerly wait to read the Junior Observer every Sunday. I enjoy reading the mini essays, by students in schools islandwide, which help me in my studies. I enjoy the drawings done by children.

The first article I sent to this newspaper won a prize and from that day I write frequently to this publication.

The illustrations that attract the front and the back covers are wonderful. I wish this publication all success and I thank my parents for buying this newpaper every week.

S. Seshini, Grade 5B, Ramakrishna Primary School, Yatiyantota.

God’s gift

Knowledge is a priceless gift,
that cannot be stolen or bought.
It’s like a bright candle,
that lights without melting wax.
When I asked God for a gift,
He sent me a wrapped box.
It was full of Intelligence...
Not diamonds, pearls or gems.
Now I’m thankful to Him,
As he sent me the most.
Inestimable, might, substantial,
Nine letters in the world,
KNOWLEDGE.

Sasna Rashad, Grade 9 A, Hill Country International School, Kandy.

My best friend

My best friend is Dinuthi Nadinsa. She is six years old. Dinuthi is fair and short. She lives in Dehiwala.

Noodles is her favourite food and milk is her favourite drink. We play many games at school. I like her very much.

Hajara Azeem, Grade 2, Presbyterian Girls’ School, Colombo.

Value of trees

Trees are important to people and animals. We cannot live without trees. They provide us with food, oxygen, medicine, timber and provide us shelter.

Trees prevent soil erosion. They produce beautiful flowers. It is our duty to protect trees and grow more.

Sithika Dilneth Basnayake, Grade 6C, Bandaranayake College, Gampaha.