He made my life better

He came into my life when I was just five
I didn't realise who he was
Because I was too small
Mum and dad hardly had time for me
Making me jealous of this new member
Who suddenly came into our life

Day by day, the time passed
And when my age was thirteen
The jealousy inside me disappeared
Along with the past memories
I began to love this new member
Who always took away our loneliness

There were times we played together
There were times we shouted at each other
And at times we laughed together
And at times we cried together
There were times I couldn't even stay
Without this new member!

The age difference didn't matter
It was to him I spoke my thoughts
It's a bond which would last forever
For it's my brother who'll be there,
With me for ever and ever.

Ishara Umandi Piyankara, Grade 11 - D, Visakha Vidyalaya,Colombo.
 

What's important to me

Of course there are many things that are important to me. Some people say money, sports, studies and various other things are very important for them but as a thirteen-year-old one of the most important things for me is studies. Apart from studies there are hobbies which help develop our knowledge. One such hobby is reading. We consider books as a very important thing, because they give us knowledge as well as pleasure.

The present is the time to develop our qualities because if we do so we can grow up to be good citizens of not only our country but the whole world! Even if we are highly qualified in the academic field we cannot progress much if we aren't educated in other areas of life.

Therefore, the most important thing for me is to develop good qualities. Out of my qualities, determination, steadiness/composure, equanimity, and honesty are the most important qualities.If you have the determination you will be able to approach any goal, however difficult it may be. Equanimity is a quality I suppose I must have inherited from birth as I have been named Upeksha (which means equanimity). If you develop this quality, you can stay neutral in any ups and downs in life.

'Honesty is the best policy' it's said and it's true. If you are honest you will not be afraid of anything in life.

If one has these three qualities, I think that person would be able to achieve much in life and win the entire world! So, the most important thing for me is to develop these qualities.

Gimhani Upeksha Waduge, Grade 9B, English Medium Carmel Girls' Central College,Chilaw.

Be eco-friendly

The environment means our surrounding. It consists of land, water and air. In order to spend a healthy and happy life, we need a favourable environment. But today the environment is gravely affected by some activities carried out by human beings.

Some people cause heavy damage to the environment, by felling trees, polluting rivers and streams, throwing garbage and releasing chemicals into them and also setting fire to forests, destroying wildlife and valuable plants.

However, there are some people who truly love the environment and are deeply concerned about it. They take all possible precautions to protect the environment.

They organise tree planting campaigns, start reforestation and soil conservation programmes and various other eco-friendly activities.

Not only that, they also take measures to beautify the environment by keeping it clean. Responsible elders teach young children to love and protect the environment. The people who protect the environment are the real sons and daughters of Mother Nature!

Fathima Rozanne Roome, Grade 8G, St. Joseph's Balika MV, Kegalle.

Religious festivals in Sri Lanka

There are so many religious and national festivals in Sri Lanka. Out of these, the religious festivals are of importance to the people. Vesak, Deepavali, Hajji, Ramazan, Christmas, Thai Pongal, Mahasivarathri and the Sinhala and Hindu New Year are some of the many festivals celebrated.

Vesak is a very important religious festival for the Buddhist people. Ramazan is very important to Muslims while Christmas is important to Catholics and Christians.

Deepavali, Thai Pongal and Mahasivarathri festivals are very important to Tamils. Sinhala and Hindu New Year is celebrated by both Sinhala and Tamil people.

Vesak which is a significant religious festival to Buddhists is celebrated in May. It is a very colourful festival. Houses and streets are decorated with beautiful coloured lanterns on this day. The Buddhists go to the temple to worship. Many dansalas are also organised.

Muslims celebrate Ramazan at the end of a month's fasting. They make lots of tasty food during Ramazan. They share this food with their neighbours. The Catholics and Christians celebrate Christmas in December.

They decorate their houses with Christmas trees and other fancy items, send Christmas cards to their friends and relatives and exchange presents. They also prepare tasty food and share them with their neighbours. They attend a church service.

The Tamil people celebrate different festivals like Deepavali, Thai Pongal and Mahasivarathri, but Deepavali is their main religious festival. They light oil lamps in their houses on this day and wear new clothes.

H.M. Kasun Sandeepa Bandara, Grade 10B, Ibbagamuwa Central College,Kurunegala.

The service of a teacher

A teacher renders a noble service to children. She/he imparts not only knowledge, but also embellishes the student's mind and develops his/her character. Before anyone can become a teacher he/she studies for about three years at the Teachers Training Institute. Then he/she can be a trainee teacher.

After about a year, she/he will be appointed as a teacher in a government school in the country.It is the teacher who shows the students the road to go forward.

They make the students' lives in the world easier by teaching students about life. Without their guidance students may go on the wrong path.

Teachers can steer students on the right path because they can touch their hearts with gentle, kind words.

And that's why students never forget their teachers. We students can learn many valuable things from every single day we spend with them, at school.

Jayani Narmada Somathilake, Grade 9F (EM),R/Sumana Balika Vidyalaya.