Winner: Haggala Flower Garden

The Haggala flower garden is a famous botanical garden in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is a very attractive place in our country. There are many beautiful flowers, trees and ponds. Flowers such as roses, jasmines, lotuses and temple flowers have a good fragrance. There are also many animals and birds such as rabbits, deer and parrots. Butterflies, bees and humming birds suck nectar from the flowers. There are grass lands growing in the Haggala flower garden. In the mornings water drops fall onto the leaves and petals. They shine like pearls and it is a very beautiful scene. When the sun rises the garden is illuminated. It is our duty to protect this fascinating place for future generations.

K.M. Budmi Janithi Senethma, Grade 7, Bandarawela Dharmapala Secondary School, Bandarawela.

Winner: Hobbies

A hobby is an interesting activity we do for amusement during our leisure time. Modern life is hectic and we don’t have much time for hobbies. However, if we want to lead healthy lives it is essential to plan for relaxation. We must organise our lives so that we have time for hobbies. There are many types of hobbies such as stamp collecting, gardening, photography, reading, painting and playing a musical instrument. Hobbies enable us to relax and explore our talents.

Nazma Nawzeen, Grade 8, Aql International Girls School, Akurana.

Winner: My Pet

My pet is a dog. His name is Terry. He likes to play with me. Terry likes to drink milk. I love my pet very much.

Santhulya Sooriarachchi, Grade 3, Northwood College, Colombo.

Winner: The value of parents

Parents are one of the most valuable gifts from God. They take care of us and love us very much. And we are also very valuable to our parents. Our mothers keep us in the womb for nine months. After we are born she turns her blood into milk and feeds us. She stays awake at night when we are ill and wakes up early in the morning to do our work. She cooks us tasty food, washes our clothes and does many other chores. She is the last to go to bed at night.

Our father is the bread winner of the family. He works hard to earn money. He goes to work in the morning and comes home in the evening. He never allows us to be hungry. He spends for our food, education and recreation.

Our parents never think of themselves and think only of us. They make sacrifices for us and their only dream is to see their children succeed in the future. We will never be able to repay our parents and we must make them happy by being good children and studying hard.

Let’s be obedient children and study hard. Let’s make our parents happy and love, respect and care for them.

Melizza Sonali Cruze, Grade 8, Ch/Carmel Girls’ Central College, Chilaw.

Winner: My field trip

We started our field trip at 6.30 a.m. Students from Grades 4, 5 and 6 participated in it. Our class teacher and head mistress also participated in the trip. We began our journey from school and travelled by bus. We reached Udawalawe at 9.00 a.m. First we visited the elephant transit home. We saw baby elephants being fed milk by mahouts. Then we went on a safari and saw elephants, jungle cats, giant squirrels and eagles. We had lunch under a tree and then went to the Udawalawe reservoir. We saw a very large amount of water. We came back home at about 7.30 p.m. I enjoyed the field trip because it was interesting and I learned a lot.

Nelinma Methnuli Dissanayake, Grade 4, Asian Grammar School, Matara.

Iron

The bottom surface of an iron is metal and the top is plastic. We use an iron to make our clothes smooth. The first electric iron was invented by Henry Seeley in 1882. Before this there were charcoal irons and irons using kerosene oil. Although these two types of irons are cheaper, electric irons are expensive but faster. Modern electric irons are safer with a temperature control dial. It also helps us iron a range of fabrics such as cotton, silk, linen and wool. Irons are useful to us to wear ironed clothes and look neat and smart.

Thusvi Liyanage, Grade 3, Royal Institute International School, Nugegoda.

Mohamed Ali

Mohamed Ali is a legend in boxing. He was born on 17th January 1942. He held the ‘Heavy Weight’ title in boxing. He got the gold medal in light weight at the age of 18 and he got the heavy weight title at 22. He converted to Islam and changed his name to Mohamed. His earlier name was Cassius Marcellus Clay. He passed away on 3rd June 2016 at the age of 74.

D. Yasoj Shri, Grade 7, Digana International School, Kandy.

Poson Festival

Poson festival is special for Buddhists for many reasons. The most important reason is the arrival of Mahinda Thera with five Buddhist monks. This day is important to inculcate pious thoughts in people's minds. The greatest respect that we can show to Arahath Mahinda who provided us with Buddhism is living according to the preaching of the Buddha and shedding all bad habits.

Udama Tharumuthu Jayasuriya, Grade 8, St. Lawrence Convent, Colombo – 6.

My big brother

My brother’s name is Lachlan Parke. He is not my real brother, but I never thought of him as a friend. He lives in Australia, I love him a lot. He always makes me smile. I first got to know him in church.

He teaches me a lot of things; he is always there for me in difficult situations. I too help him in his difficult situations, even though sometimes his problems may be big.

We may be far by distance, but never in heart. I will go to Australia when I’m big. Sometimes Lachlan may not have time for me but I know he always cares.

I can always share my problems with him. I love him and I thank God for him and I write this as a big thank you!

Joshua Mark Albert, Grade 8B, Carey College.

Ramazan

Ramazan is the fourth pillar of Islam. It is compulsory for every Muslim to observe fast during this month. It is in the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Fasting is observed for approximately 29 or 30 days. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset and they abstain from eating, drinking and bad conduct during this month. The Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohamed on the 27th night of Ramazan. Muslims spend this night in prayer. At the end of this month the Ramazan festival is celebrated.

F. Fazla Azmi, Grade 10, Mukarramah School.