A visit to Northern Princess

When my aunt suggested to go on a trip to Jaffna, the ‘Northern Princess’ during the school vacation, I was very glad.

I was in haste to convey this happy message to my cousins, but as I was not sure whether it was going to materialise, I asked my Chooti punchi and she said the trip would be done.

We left on September 16 in our uncle’s van.

We travelled via Kurunegala and stopped at a devale on our way to get the blessings of the deities. Then we travelled directly to Jaffna as it takes a long time to get there.

On the way we saw many buildings ruined by the ethnic conflict. When we reached Omanthai the sky seemed to be filled up with dark, heavy rain clouds.

The wind too blew strongly adding to the gloominess. Exactly at Medavachchiya, it began to rain.

It was approximately 9.30 p.m. when we reached Jaffna. We stayed at the Weerasingham Cooperation Building. We had dinner, washed ourselves and slept early as we were all very tired.

The next day we visited Nagadeepa (Nainativu) and went to the temple across the sea in boats. It was a calm and quiet place with a cold wind prevailing. On our way we bought some sweets from the stalls on either side of the temple.

After lunch we went to Dambakolapatuna, the place where Sangamitta Theri, a kinswoman of King Dharmasoka landed. We also visited, Nagavihara, Ponnalai pond and the picturesque Nallur Kovil. I took many photographs of the nice scenery.The following day which was a Monday, we left Jaffna. On our way back home, we worshipped Buddhist shrines at the sacred city of Anuradhapura.

I was very sad to leave Jaffna but was happy about the interesting experience I had by visiting Jaffna.

Shiranthika Ariyarathna Grade 10, Keenlee and Willems International School, Mawanella.

When floods occur

During the rainy season, drains, canals and rivers get filled with rainwater. Many river banks cannot contain the volume of water and the rivers start to overflow.

Day by day the amount of flood water increases with continued rain and causes much damage to houses, lives, roads and bridges. Many animals too die during floods. In villages, wells cesspits and cropland too go under flood water. There are areas in Sri Lanka that get flooded even without any rivers and canals nearby.

Some people enjoy floods and go about in boats and play in the water. They make rafts tying some logs together and float on them. They enjoy themselves during floods, but refugees cry for their lost property and family members. Immediately after floods, epidemics spread. Cholera, dysentery and diarrhoea are some of them.

Ishrd Zainab, Grade 4-A, Good Hope International College, Mawanella.

Myself

My name is Chathushki Madubani. I am eight years old. I live in Kiribathgoda.

My school is Defence Services College Colombo 2. I am in Grade Three. I travel to school by van. My favourite subject is English and my favourite hobby is reading books.

I also like to play cricket a lot. I want to be a teacher.

I have only a brother. My father’s name is Pushpa Kumara. He works in the Air Force.

My mother’s name is Chandralatha. She is a housewife.

My favourite food is fruits. My favourite drink is water. I get up at half past five in the morning every day.

Chathushki Madubani, Grade 3D, Defence Services College, Colombo 2.

Water is precious

Water is useful for man and other living creatures. We need water for drinking, washing, cooking and for bathing. Water comes down as rain, from the clouds.

Rain water fills rivers, lakes and ponds.

Clean water has no colour, no taste and no smell. We should not waste it as we need it for our survival.

Nahla Shafeek, Grade 2, Wesswood International Girls’ College.

Magical medicine

What is medicine? Why do we need medicine? From where do we get medicine? Why should we not take medicine without a prescription from a doctor? These are some of the questions that come to my mind when I think of medicine.

Medicine is also known as drugs. It comes in different forms such as, tablets, capsules, vials and syrups. Some medicines have to be injected into the body. They are called immunizing medicines.

All medicines and immunizers have an expiry date and a date of manufacture. When you buy any medicine, you must check the expiry date because otherwise your illness could get worse. Sometimes the same drug is sold in different names because they are produced by different companies.

The prices are also different. When little children fall ill, the doctors generally prescribe syrups. They are very sweet because then the children will like to drink the medicine. Even medicines given for fever come as a syrup for children and they like to drink it .

Sometimes they give bitter medicines too, especially for fever. Then you must crush it and mix it with bee’s honey. But anyway most children’s medicines and vitamins are sweet. We import medicines from many countries like India, England, Singapore, America and Thailand. There is a Sinhalese medical system too which is called the Ayurvedic systems. The medicines used are made out of mostly local herbal plants. These are very cooling medicines.

There is a special place called a pharmacy from where you can purchase most medicines. A pharmacist has to have a special licence for it. When we fall ill we need to take medicines to get cured. It is said ‘Health is wealth’, so if we want to stay healthy we cannot refuse to take medicine. I like syrups, but I hate capsules and tablets. However,I think that medicine is something magical because it has the power to cure.

Randhula Gajadheera, Willesden College International.

My pen-pal

My pen-pal is Tharindu Rukshan. He can speak English well. He lives in Colombo. Tharindu and I became friends by chance. One day I was about to read the Junior Observer which was on the table when the last page was turned by the wind. I spotted the pen-pals corner and read Tharindu’s name there.

I read all the information he had given in the paper and wrote a letter to Tharindu. Within two weeks, I received a reply from him. He is 14 years old and wants to be an engineer. His mother is a teacher and his father is an engineer. He hasn’t any sisters but he has a brother.

Tharindu’s hobbies are gardening and collecting stamps. Out of these two his favourite hobby is collecting stamps. Sometimes we exchange stamps. He collects pictures too. His favourite sport is cricket. I am proud of my pen pal.

B. M. L. Y. Somaratna, Grade: 8-C, Diyathilake Central College, Kandy.