Winner: Unity in the family

A family is the most important unit in society. Unity in a family leads to peace in society, bringing peace and harmony in the country in the long run.

Unity also promotes a peaceful family environment. It leads to a good understanding and creates goodwill among people. We learn tolerance and develop mutual co-operation.

These are qualities we develop in a good family environment.

Kasuni Somaratna,
Grade 10,
Louvre International School,
Nugegoda.

Winner: Marie Curie

Marie Curie is a woman scientist who discovered radium. She was born in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Her maiden name was Marie Sklodovska and after her marriage to Pierre Curie, she was known as Marie Curie.

She passed her High School examination at the age of sixteen and won a gold medal in studies. She wanted to study Science at the university but being a woman, she could not gain admission.

Marie went to Paris for her higher studies. She got a first class in B.Sc at Sakhan University. After passing the examination she was introduced to Pierre Curie by her friend. They fell in love with each other and got married.

Marie Curie started her career as a co-helper to Prof. Becquerel. In 1911, she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry and in 1935 she was awarded a Nobel Prize for discovering radioactivity.

In 1906, Pierre Curie died in a road accident and Marie Curie suffered a serious setback due to his death. She set up the Curie Institute of Radium in Paris. A chemical element was named curium and a unit of radioactivity, Curie has been named after Marie Curie in her honour.

Vethma Ratnayake,
Grade 11,
Mahamaya Girls’ College,
Kandy.

Winner: My bicycle

I have a bicycle. It is purple in colour. My mother presented it to me on my birthday.

My bicycle has a silver bell on the handle. It also has lights in the front and at the rear.

Cycling is an exciting hobby.

When I am free in the evenings, I ride my bicycle in the garden.I love my bicycle.

Thihansa Vimukthi Alutwala,
Grade 2J,
Asian International School, Colombo 5.

Winner: Handicrafts in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a proud heritage of handicrafts in the past and present. These include weaving clothes, rattan baskets, leather, pottery, jewellery, mask and brasswork.

Brasswork was a traditional handicraft carried out by our forefathers in times gone by in a village known as Pilamathalawa in Kandy. Even today, these craftsmen are engage in this occupation.

Wood carving was also a popular handicraft in the good old days. Even today it is practised by many people. Masks are made in Ambalangoda and it's a popular industry. As they are very creative and beautiful it is popular among locals and foreigners.

Our forefathers trained the younger generation to follow this trade. It is our duty to protect these forms of handicraft.

Dinushi Perera,
Grade 9,
Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.

Winner: My aim in life

People have different aims in life. One must have an aim in his or her life. Without an aim one cannot succeed in life.

Once an aim is set, it can be reached. Some wish to be doctors, while others want to be big businessmen, earning a lot of money. Others may like to be engineers.

My ambition is to become a teacher. It is the best profession in the world. It is also a noble profession. Without teachers, people cannot become good citizens. Our country needs good, and energetic teachers. The best teacher is a nation builder.

I hope to serve my country as a teacher. I wish to become a teacher and guide my country to achieve its goals.

A. Haleeza Zainub,
Grade 9,
Mahmud Ladies College, Kalmunai.

My favourite town

My favourite town is Anuradhapura. I like Anuradhapura because it has many sacred places. The Sri Maha Bodiya, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Mihintale and Lowamahapaya are important places in Anuradhapura. I like to visit this town again.

Omesha Nethmi Gunasekara,
Grade 5,
B/Kuda Kusum Balika M.V,
Bandarawela.

Friendship

Friendship is a beautiful relationship. Good friends are a gift from God. There are good and bad friends so we must identify good friends.

Good friends share sorrow and happiness together. They share things together and care for each other.

Some children do not like to care and share with each other.

It is a bad habit. We must be friendly and good. I hope everyone gets good friends.

Lenmini Umedha Suraweera,
Grade 6C,
St. Lawrence's Convent,
Colombo.

New Year

We said good bye to 2015 and welcomed 2016. Last year was a wonderful year for all of us and I hope this year too would be the same. We went through many ups and downs, which may have bought happiness and sadness.

There were many special days in the calendar such as New Year, Vesak, Deepavali, Ramadan and Christmas. We faced many challenges and experiences in life. I hope and pray that this year too will be happy and prosperous for all of us.

Shanika Rasangi,
Grade 11A,
NCEF Buddhist College,
Mulleriyawa New Town.

Myself

My name is Yanya Baneen. I am six years old. I live in Colombo.

I study at Zahira College, Colombo. My best friend is Rinab. I love my country Sri Lanka.

Yanya Baneen,
Zahira College,
Colombo.