Expressions

The value of a library

A library can be considered a store-house of knowledge. In dictionaries, the word “library” has been defined as “a building or room containing a collection of books”.

A library renders a great service to society. There are a large number of public libraries maintained by the local authorities throughout the island.

A library plays a very important role in promoting the progress of knowledge. There are many people who love reading. But they can’t buy books because they are very expensive.

But when one becomes a member of a library, he/she can borrow valuable books to read and return. A library is very useful for rural youth too. If they take to reading, they will be able to refrain from evil habits such as loitering and gambling.

Going by the above facts, it is apparent that a library plays a very important role in society.

K. Luwards Krishola, Grade 7, RAZ International School, Dematagoda.
 

Sports and games

Sports and games are a part of our life. We begin sports from our childhood. Hopscotch, running, hide and seek are such games we played as children. Later we begin formal games and sports. They have got internationally accepted rules and regulations.

Such games are volleyball, running, relay, basketball, hockey, cricket and so on. These can be divided into athletics and team games. Running, relay. long jump, high jump, discuss throw and shot put belong to athletic events. Some team events are volleyball, cricket, football, baseball, and so on.

Sports can also be divided as indoor games and outdoor games. Badminton, table tennis and basketball are some famous indoor games. While these games develop our physical health, some games like scrabble, chess, carrom, draught, develop our intellectual capacities.

Sports and games help us to maintain a healthy life and a balanced personality. It provides enough exercise for our body. They make our muscles stronger, helps to keep our hearts healthy and reduces excess fat in our body. In a game like cricket, baseball or elle, we are trained to co-ordinate our eyes, brain, hands and legs together.

Sports and games also produce a disciplined character to the society. Sports teach us to work together as a team, to protect the team spirit and to accept both victory and defeat. These qualities will beautify our personality. We’ll also be given the strength to accept any challenge in our lives. As a result we can engage in our studies better.

Sports and games help to maintain peace and harmony among nations. In international sports festivals such as SAF Games, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, athletes from different countries, cultures and religions compete together.

This in turn helps to strengthen friendly relationships among nations eradicating misunderstanding and conflicts. Therefore we must engage in sports from our childhood. Then we can inculcate good qualities and work together for peace and harmony of Mother Lanka.

Venuri Wanninayake, Grade 6D, Royal International School, Kurunegala.
 

A child’s duties

Obeying parents is the prime duty of any child because parents are responsible for the upbringing and welfare of a child.

A child depends on his or her parents for everything and it is important to obey them and follow the advice given by them. Respecting parents and elders is a must.

It is a child’s duty to behave well at home, at school and in society because otherwise he/she cannot become a good citizen and serve the nation.

A child should also learn to live according to the teachings of whatever religion he/she practises. When at school, he/she should obey teachers and study well.

He or she should also participate in extra-curricular activities not just to show talent, but also to bring honour to the school. It is the duty of a child to protect the honour and dignity of the school through his/her conduct.

Another important duty of any child is to strive hard to achieve the best in studies and repay his/her parents and teachers.

R. Tharuka Dilrangi Fernando, Grade 6, Holy Family BMV, Wennappuwa.
 

Kindness to animals

As human beings we should show kindness towards animals. They are weak and helpless; they depend a lot on us for their well-being. We should treat them with kindness.

Many poets have written numerous poems against cruelty to animals. Most animals are useful and faithful creatures. We should never forget that animals are an integral part of our environment. They also have a right to live on Earth. Killing or harming them is a sinful deed.

In our country, many animals are killed for their flesh everyday; even the cow that provides us milk and the bull that draws our carts are not spared. This is a very sad state of affairs.

“If anyone lives according to nature and eats natural food, he/she will never fall victim to many a disease. According to scientific factors, man is a herbivorous animal. Therefore man is not created to eat meat”. Many animals are facing the dangerous threat of extinction today.

The physical pain and some emotions experienced by humans are also felt by animals. They too fear torture and death. Sometimes we see animals transported in lorries in an inhuman manner. We also see how some bulls are beaten and forced to pull carts. After all this hard work they are killed for flesh when they are feeble and of no use to man.

It is the duty of all animal lovers to band together and do all they could to save these animals from cruelty.

N. Safaana Aazmy, Grade - 11, Sailan International School, Negombo.
 

Our school life...

Our school life is the most important period in our lifetime. We are able to attend school only for a very short period. That is about 15 years. We must do our studies well and obey our teachers. Then we will be able to leave school as educated and good citizens to live in society.

At school we have to not only study the curriculum subjects, but also learn various other activities and also learn good habits, be punctual, work hard and so on.

When it comes to school work, we must make it a habit to do our school exercises regularly and also any homework given by our teachers.

We must try to learn as much as possible because at the end we have to sit for government examinations. If we get through well, then the objectives of our teachers and parents will be fulfilled. It will help us to improve our future too.

Randima Jayawardana, Grade 8 H, Royal Evening Institute, Colombo 9.
 

Fresh air for a healthy life......

Fresh air is necessary for good health. Impure air is bad for our health. Villagers are healthier than town dwellers because they breathe fresh air. The villagers are out all day on the fields or open places breathing fresh, clean air, but the air the people in crowded towns are breathing is heavily polluted; always full of smoke, dust and germs.

We cannot live without air. If we are prevented from breathing even for five minutes we could die. If we stay a long time in a closed, crowded room without any fresh air we begin to feel very sleepy and our heads begin to ache.

The fresh air we breathe into our lungs purifies our blood and gives it new life. If we are always breathing fresh air no harm is done, but most often the air we breathe is not pure. We must always keep the windows in our homes or offices open, so that the air is always fresh.

Fresh air means good health and good health helps us to lead a happy life.

S. H. J. Thilanke, Grade - 13 Science, MR/Siddhartha Vidyalaya, Weligama.
 

My mother

My mother is Induka Eranthethi Kumari Vickramanayaka. She is 32 years old. She is very fair and honest. My mother is a seamstress. She sews at home. With the meagre salary she earns by taking sewing orders, she tries hard to provide us with our basic needs.

She is working hard to improve our lives and bring us up to a good position in the future. My mother is very cordial. I will love her as long as I live.

K. G. Dushni Thakshala, Grade 6, Cliffton Balika Maha Viduhala, Colombo 10.
 

My beautiful country

My country is Sri Lanka. It is a South Asian country and is situated in the Indian Ocean. My country is a small island. There are many waterfalls, rivers, mountains and jungles in my country.

The Mahaweli River is the largest river and Piduruthalagala is the highest mountain. The President of my country is Mahinda Rajapaksa and the administrative capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte. There are nine provinces. Colombo is the commercial capital. Many tourists visit my country because there are many beautiful places to see.

I think my country is the most beautiful country in the world. I love my country.

P. Shehan Prebashwara, Bandaranaike College, Gampaha.
 

My bicycle

I have a bicycle. It is a small bicycle. My father gave it to me as a birthday present. It is very nice. I like it very much.

Imal Maleesha Kannangara, Grade 3C, St. Mary’s College, Matugama.

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What I can do ...

I am a little girl aged ten years. Some say that I cannot do anything because I am too small. But, see how many things I can do ...

I can clean the cobwebs.

I can sweep the floor.

I can wash my dirty linen.

I can water the plants.

I can sing and dance.

I can draw nice pictures.

I can light the hearth.

See, I can do wonders!

Nisansala Maduwanthi, Wen/Lunuwila R.C. School.