Expressions

Winner: Drug menace in Sri Lanka

The drug menace is a burning problem in Sri Lanka because many people are addicted to illegal drugs. They are made from herbal plants. Nowadays a large quantity of illegal drugs is consumed by children. Some are cannabis, heroin, cocaine and LSD.

Drug peddlers earn a lot of money by selling drugs. When a man takes these drugs he loses his senses. For example, he cannot even recognise his own parents, brothers and sisters. A person who is on drugs will have an imbalanced personality.

They also suffer from kidney, cancer and heart problems and the country will end up with unhealthy citizens. It is time that we wipe out the drug menace from Sri Lanka. Every one must get-together and extend their co-operation to wipe out this problem. So let us hope for a better Sri Lanka without illegal drugs.

B.S. Lasini Hansika Dayarathne,
Grade 10,
Maliyadewa Model School,
Kurunegala.

Winner: Vesak festival

Vesak, a religious festival in Sri Lanka celebrated in May is important to Buddhists. In our country this festival is celebrated to mark the birth of Bodhi Sathwa, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.

People decorate their houses with colourful Vesak lanterns. Buddhists go to the temple and observe Sil on that day. Dansal and colourful pandols are erected in towns and villages.

Vesak Poya is a very important day for Buddhists.

Tharushi Navodya,
Grade 6,
MR/Bamunugama Maha Vidyalaya,
Kadurupitiya.

Winner: My birthday party

I celebrated my sixth birthday on August 31, 2015. I invited my friends and relatives. My mother made a big cake and I lit the candles. I wore a new dress on my birthday. It was so amazing.

We had many games. We enjoyed eating cake and the sweets. I cut the cake and fed each and everyone. I had so much fun with my friends and relatives.

Salma Lafir,
Grade 2,
Harrow International College,
Beruwala.

Winner: If I get wings

If I get wings, I will fly around the world. I will enjoy seeing mountains, rivers and waterfalls and eat lots of fruits of different types.

I will build my house on the most beautiful tree and live there happily. I will wake up early in the morning and watch the beautiful sunrise.

If I get wings I could see the Seven Wonders of the World. I will visit Japan, France, England and Australia and make new friends.

Pamodi Hasara Amarasinghe,
Grade 8,
Gurudeniya Maha Vidyalaya,
Kandy.

Winner: Tea cultivation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is famous for tea throughout the world. There is a big demand for Sri Lankan tea in the world market. The tea plantation industry is very important to Sri Lanka because tea exports earn 60% of our foreign exchange.

Tea cultivation began in 1870 during the British era. Tea plants grow well on wet slopes of the hill country. It needs plenty of rain but it also needs a lot of sunshine. There are thousands of acres of land under tea cultivation in Sri Lanka.

The big tea estates are in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kandy, Kegalle and the Ratnapura districts. Sri Lanka produces a large quantity of tea every year. The government has taken several steps to develop the tea industry in Sri Lanka.

We export tea to Britain and Australia. The Tea Research Institute is situated in Lindula, Thalawakele. Tea is our biggest foreign exchange earner.

Thaviru S. Jayasinghe,
Grade 6,
Gateway College,
Negombo.

New Year

People visit their relatives, friends and neighbours on New Year’s day. They take sweetmeats such as oil cakes, kokis and cakes on New Year’s day. During the New Year people buy new clothes and clean their houses. Every New Year a cuckoo bird similar to that of a crow flies in to Sri Lanka. It comes from India. The cuckoos lay their eggs in crows’ nests. People light fire crackers and play lots of games during the New Year. Girls wear cloth and jackets and boys wear sarongs and shirts. People boil milk and prepare milk rice. Parents and children take pansil and the night is so beautiful.

Neja Keshini Jayasundara,
Grade 3,
Gateway College,
Rajagiriya.

Birds

There are several types of birds in the world. Birds are very beautiful. There are birds of many colours such as red, blue, yellow and green. Birds beautify the woods. Birds come to my garden every morning. Woodpeckers can make beautiful nests. Swallows can forecast the weather. Parrots can speak. I like birds very much.

Aakhilah Imara,
Grade 4,
G/Southlands College,Galle.

Gems

Sri Lanka has been famous for gemstones from the earliest of times. Gems are important for the export industry. Several areas in the Sabaragamuwa Province are well known for gems. Ratnapura is the most important region for stones.

Ratnapura means the 'City of gems.' It has gem museums displaying a wide range of gems available in the country.

Sara Kaluarachchi,
Grade 4,
Swarnamali Girls’ College,
Kandy.

Myself

My name is Mohamed Afnan. I am eight years old. I study at the School of Excellence at Madurankuliya. I am in Grade 3.

My favourite subject is Mathematics. My favourite colour is green.

My hobbies are riding the bicycle and swimming.

My father is an accountant and my mother is a housewife.

My ambition is to be a doctor.

Afnan Ashkar,
Grade 3,
School of Excellence, Madurankuliya.