The man of the future!

The man of the future

Will open his eyes in the morning

When his robot comes in.

He will brush his teeth

With an electric toothbrush,

Soap he would not want

Because of the treated water

That would cleanse thoroughly.

He will read his newspaper

Or rather the newspaper would read itself.

Fear he would not

Of being late to work.

For he would be travelling

In his small flying car,

Pressing buttons will be his only duty

While the computers do everything else.

At twelve noon

His lunch he would have

Shrunk into a mere pill.

In the evening when he returns

His bath he would have

A sort of dry cleaning

Without water, the precious liquid.

Then his destination would be

The indoor garden,

Where pollution does not enter

After getting his exercise there

The television he will seek

For entertainment,

Afterwards he would

Close his eyes to sleep,

Hoping that pollution

Would not increase

So that he could be alive, tomorrow.

Nillasi Liyanage, Grade 10F,Musaeus College,Colombo 7.

Save precious water!

Water is very precious. We cannot live without it. Therefore, we should not waste it especially because frequent droughts and also the increase in the population is causing severe shortage of water.

Water to us is indispensable. We should all pay greater attention to how we make use of this natural resource. This will help conserve it so that we will have clean water in the years to come.

There are many ways to prevent wastage of water. For example, we should not let taps leak, let water run unnecessarily while washing the face, hands or even while brushing our teeth. Think of all the people in remote villages and dry zone areas who have to fetch water from a great distance. They have to walk miles to get one bucket of water! So, let’s not waste this precious liquid.

Water is being used much faster than it is being replaced. We must all do our part in conserving water. It not only saves your money by cutting down on water bills, it also ensures that future generations have enough clean water to survive on.

Malshani Navanjana Pathirana, 10E, Yasodhara Devi Balika MV,Gampaha.
 

My garden

I have a little garden in front of my house. It has flowers, fruit plants and greens growing in it. In the evenings, after school, I water all the plants.

I give the vegetables, greens and curry leaves to my father. They are very fresh and clean because they are from our own garden. My mother also helps me with the garden work.

My garden is colourful with many kinds of flowers. There is a lovely tall plant with purple flowers. Butterflies and birds visit my garden everyday. In the rainy season, my garden is full of new flowers and fruits.

Roses, jasmines and marigolds are some of the other flowers I have grown in my garden. There is also a mango and an avocado tree.I sweep the garden every morning and evening.

I am very happy to see such a beautiful garden. I am always trying to keep it clean and neat because I like my little garden very much.

P.G. Nuwanthi Sakunika Weerasekara, Grade 8,K/Bowalawatta Situmina Viduhala.

My best friend

My best friend’s name is Azeem. He lives in Beruwela. His favourite subject is science. He is eight years old. He is also my classmate. He goes to school by van. His hobby is drawing. He likes to become a doctor in the future. I like my friend very much.

M.R.M. Fayas, Grade 3,Ikra International School, Panadura Branch.

The future gem

Present quickly becomes the past.

Every time, the unknown future comes.

Sometimes the past is present.

Every action has a future gem.

We must be careful to find that.

Menaka Madubashini, Thakshila Maha Vidyalaya, Gampaha

Sinharaja - Sri Lanka’s most valuable natural wealth

Sinharaja is a rain forest which is very famous all over the world for its natural beauty and diversity of species. It is Sri Lanka’s first natural forest.

Sinharaja forest extends upto Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. It has a land area of 1187 hectares with a rainfall of 2,000 mm per year.

Sinharaja forest which is home to many animals and plants was named as a World Heritage Site in 1989. Endemism is a special feature of the Sinharaja forest, many endemic trees, birds and animals are found there like Keena, godapara and even wild fowls. There are herbivorous, carnivorous as well as mixed feeders, in the forest.

Sinharaja forest also has a long and a fascinating history. According to a legend, the name Sinharaja was given to this area because of a strong lion which lived there long ago; it had killed many people and later been killed by a giant.

Sinharaja is called the nation’s green heart too. But at present people who visit this beautiful place pollute it by throwing garbage and destroying its plants and trees.

So, as the future generation of our country, it is our responsibility to protect this beautiful forest, which is our first natural heritage.

Dharani Karunaratne, Grade 9, Musaeus College, Colombo 7.

Why must we help the aged?

We will all become old one day. If people don’t help elders, who will look after us when we are old?

Most people, when they are over 80 or 85, find that they can’t walk without help or walk at all. They don’t have wheelchairs to move about either unless we provide them. We must do this willingly. If children don’t look after their parents and elders nobody will look after them, when they are old either.

Lots of old people end up in elders’ homes because their children reject them. There they live unhappy lives because they don’t have the love they once had. They are lonely and sad most of the time.

But some old people have children who look after them lovingly. For instance, my parents have provided a room, a bathroom and even a kitchen for my paternal grandmother. They also always send food and visit my maternal grandmother who lives up the street, in her own house. Both my grandfathers have passed away.

There is a saying: “You can never repay the kindness your parents have shown you.” You must remember their generosity to you when you were young and try to help them when they are old.

In my school we had a collection for the “Help Age Fund.” We collected a large sum of money and the organisers came and spoke to us at assembly. They gave prizes and thanked us. We were happy to have helped, such a worthy cause.

Isira Perera, Form 1, College of World Education, Thalawathugoda.