Wonders of the animal kingdom...

Winner:

This world does not belong only to human beings. It was created for us as well as for animals and plants. Both animal and plant kingdoms are very important to us. We can identify so many marvellous creatures in the animal kingdom. Have you ever seen instances where a certain species of animal depend on another species for some form of help? This type of unusual relationship for mutual benefit is called a symbiotic relationship. As an example, the ant depends on a sugar solution released from the aphid's body while the aphid depends on the ant to travel from tree to tree.

Camouflage is also a wonderful thing we can see in some animals. It means an animal's ability to change colour to suit its surroundings in order to protect itself from predators.

The tree toad and the lizard are very good examples of such camouflage. Some animals are born with skin or coats that blend with the environment, so they are naturally camouflaged. Others have the ability to change when necessary.

Like human beings, the adult animals too love their offspring very much. For example, Tilapia, a kind of fish takes its little ones into its mouth to protect them in the presence of an enemy. Animals such as bees, elephants, bears, leopards and kangaroos too protect their young.

There are some animals who have marvellous abilities and characteristics. The electric eel, a fish which can release an electric force of about 600 volts per second is an example of this. The duckbilled platypus is another special animal. It is a mammal born from an egg. A few other fascinating animals we find in the animal kingdom are flying squirrels, porcupines, fish, pangolins and sea horses.

All these animals give us a wide knowledge about the environment and also teach us many good qualities. Therefore, we too have to protect these precious animals. They are a part of the eco system and we are inter-dependant on one another. We must protect them and their habitats.

E. M. Thamali Priyadarshani Elliyadde,

Grade 7-G,

Mahamaya Girls' College,

Kandy.

Why I learn English

Winner:

During ancient days, people did not know many languages to communicate and express their ideas. Because people were uncivilised they expressed their ideas mostly through body language and drawings.

Gradually when social conditions improved, they made up letters and words to communicate and express their ideas. Almost every country developed and improved its own language. We could see today that the English language is being used all over the world as a link language.Even though hundreds of languages are being used in every country today priority is given to the English Language. People are taught the language using modern techniques in order to make their lives easier, as English has become compulsory to forge ahead in life.

Everybody knows in today's world that it is essential to study English, especially if one intends to travel abroad. Without any trouble we could communicate with most foreigners when we go abroad, if we know English. That is why we say Englsih is an international language. If we know the language well, it will give us confidence to face many of the challenges in today's society.

We live in a modern and technologically advanced era. It is important for everyone to keep in contact with people who live in different parts of the world. The people who live in this society cannot afford to be isolated and it is in this context that the English language becomes very important.I believe that every person living in this world should learn English. It should be made a compulsory subject at school.Many have now understood the value of knowing the language in order to be a successful member of their society. This international language helps people to travel to any part of the world to improve their educational standards. Basically, English helps everybody in this world to enhance their knowledge. So I, as a citizen of this world, want to learn English well and improve my knowledge and social status in life.

Dharshika Sekar

Grade 3, Taprobane International School, Kalutara South.

How I spent my holidays

It was our year-end vacation. My family had arranged to go on a trip and we were excited up to the time we set out. When the eventful day dawned at five o'clock in the morning, my uncle's family came to our place with their travelling bags. Excitement mixed with happiness filled the normally bleak and dull corridors of our house. Our dream had come true.

What a happy batch of picnickers we were. The driver started the engine of the bus and off we went. Before long we were on the highway racing at over forty miles an hour through the lush green paddy fields and vast acres of swaying coconut palms. We stopped at a rest house where we had our lunch, rested a while and set off before tea.

The bus now began climbing the mountain roads passing the green carpeted tea estates while the temperature dropped steadily. We had tea at Koslanda under the foam of the mist of Diyaluma falls. We then booked in at a rest house for the night.

The next morning, we went to a waterfall. The water seemed to crash down nearly 628 feet breaking in the air into a beautiful cloud. The following day was the last day of the trip. Even though everyone including me was tired, I was sad that the trip was coming to an end.

Cassim Joonoos,

Hejaaz International School,

Mt. Lavinia.

Mammals...

Winner:

Mammals are warm blooded animals with backbones whose young are fed on mother's milk. Their bodies are generally covered in fur or hair. The platypus and echinda are the only two egg laying mammals. Both are native to Australia.

Mammals can be found in different parts of the world. They vary in size from the minute shrew to the giant blue whale. Different species lead very different kinds of lives. They are found below the ground, in water, in trees and in the air.

All mammals are not the same even though they share some basic traits. We can see that different species have different features. Being well adapted to a particular lifestyle is very important when it comes to foraging for food. Usually among mammals the main differences are seen in their limbs, formation of teeth and coat.

Some mammals have legs that are well adapted for running while others have limbs that are helpful for hopping, burrowing, climbing, swimming or flying.Because mammals are warm blooded and generally sport a fur coat, they are well adapted to life in either cold or hot countries.

Kubra Rafaideen,

Good Shepherd Convent,

Kandy.

Bonsai - an ancient art of growing plants

Winner:

What is Bonsai? It is an art of producing miniature trees. The Japanese word bonsai means "the tree planted in a tray" or in short "tray-planted".

It's an art that the Japanese have perfected over the centuries. They say that bonsai trees are a reminder that all things change. It's the same concept of Buddhism; nothing remains the same forever, everything changes.

Bonsai is becoming a popular art and hobby in Sri Lanka like in many other countries.

In Japan Bonsais are for sale along with other plants and trees.Bonsai are ordinary trees dwarfed by pruning roots, branches and tying branches with wire.

But such acts alone are not enough to restrict the trees to miniature size. New shoots must be nipped and the plants must be re-potted. Before re-potting, the roots have to be pruned.

The plants will then get smaller and fit into containers. Then eventually they can be grown in the same pot for years.It takes 5-10 years to get a tree of two inch height. And a tree about 6-12 inches can be cultivated in about three years.

The container which the tree is planted in, can be wood or clay and it can be round, square, rectangular or even octangular. It must have a hole at the bottom.

Most Bonsai have branches spreading all around and some hang down. The container must be selected to suit the shape and the height of the tree. Bonsai need to be watered regularly.

They can be left outdoors if the weather is not too cold or if there's no rain, as they are hardy plants.

M.N. Fathima Fazeela,

St. Paul's Girls' School,Milagiriya.

My brother, Vojitha

My brother Vojitha is five years old.He is a Grade 1C student at Royal International School.My brother's hobbies are playing computer games and watching Ben 10 cartoons.

He is very helpful and is a very joyful member in my family. He is a good artist and has won two gold medals and a bicycle at art competitions.His friends are Malshini, Susanka, Lashini and Radhin.I am very proud of him and i love him very much.May God Bless my brother.

Savindu Hiranniya Herat,

Grade 4 C, Royal International School,

Kurunegala.

Your poems

Dennis, my pet

Winner:

Dennis is my pet

A white and fluffy cat

Looks like a white ball

Plays with my doll.

Mama is Penny

Papa is Kitty

It has a name

But can't hear its name

Runs behinds flies

But can't catch though it tries

So mama hunts a bird or squirrel

For her dear little son.

It comes to my bed

To curl up and sleep

Swirls near my feet

To be patted by me.

Dilushi Daranegama,

Grade 9D,

Girls' High School, Kandy.