Hard work, the gateway to success

Winner

Every person living in this world has a dream of leading a successful life. But all dreams will not come true if we do not make them happen. No one can achieve anything without any effort.

There is a great saying ,”Life is not a bed of roses”. All successful people in the world have achieved success by working hard and making many sacrifices. I like to tell the younger generation of today that success can be theirs if they work hard.If you want to have a successful future you must have a great ambition from childhood. For example, if you want to be a doctor you should prepare the background which will be suitable for it. You have to do your best to reach your goals. If someone likes to achieve a certain target, he or she should work hard, be strong, determined and dedicated. When you do your studies or some other work, make a timetable and do your work according to it, methodically. Children should be encouraged by parents and adults to do so and become successful in life.

Their young minds must be given proper direction. They should be given the opportunity to make the best use of their talents and knowledge. They should be encouraged to work hard so that they could shine and become stars in life.

Menuka Tennakoon,
Grade 9S7,
St. Joseph’s College,
Colombo 10.

Save endangered dolphins!

Winner:

Dolphins are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. Though they live in the water, they are not fish. They are mammals like us.

Dolphins live in most every ocean except in the icy cold waters of the Arctic and the Antarctic. They are one of the fastest animals in water and can swim up to a speed of 35-55 km an hour.Fishermen have considered them a good luck symbol for many years. Even though they are mammals they have adapted and evolved to live in water.

Dolphins find their prey through echolocation; they emit a sound that bounces off solid objects. From the echo they can know the size and shape of the object.

They have lungs like us so they have to come to the surface to breathe.Female dolphins give birth to a single baby at a time. The baby dolphin feeds on its mother’s milk for the first four months. They live up to about 50 years.Dolphins know to communicate with one another in complex ways.

Although it is illegal to kill dolphins people, especially fishermen, continue to kill dolphins in Sri Lanka.

They are sold at fish markets as muhudu ura.

The IUCN, the World Conservation Union is raising awareness among the public to make our seas safe for dolphins. Dolphins are actually kind and intelligent creatures who help humans in distress but their numbers have dropped due to them being killed.

So, all of us must take action against the people who kill such intelligent animals. It is our duty. We must do our best to save this fascinating marine creature.

Praveenya de Silva,
Grade 10,
Good Shepherd Convent,
Panadura.

I want to be a pilot

My name is Vojitha Herat. I am in Grade 2A at Royal International school. I have two brothers. My father is a Marketing Manager. My mother has a shop.

I live in Kurunegala. My friends are Sasanka, Oshada and Benul. I can swim well and draw beautifully. I have won many certificates, trophies and gold medals at swimming and art competitions.

I like to play with my brothers and friends.Every Sunday I go to Sunday school. When I grow up I like to be a pilot.

Vojitha Heshan Herat,
Grade 2A,
Royal International School,
Kurunegala.

Myself

My name is Hasitha Kavindu. I am a boy aged six years.
My school is Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa.
I’m in Grade 2-A.
My friend is Tharusha.
My father is a teacher.
My mother is Anoma Wijayandanie. One day I want to be a doctor.

Hasitha Kavindu Jayawardana,
Grade 2A,
Prince of Wales College,
Moratuwa.

Delicious rambuttans

Winner

Rambuttan which belongs to the Sapindaceae family is an indigenous (native) plant.

It is believed to have been introduced to Sri Lanka by Arabic merchants long ago.

Rambuttan can be successfully cultivated in the wet zone It is mostly known as a home garden plant.

This fruit is enriched with sugar based carbohydrate, vitamin c, calcium, iron and phosphorus.

The unripened but mature fruits are used as a curative indigenous medicine.

It is also good for parasite infections in gastro intestinal track and diarrhoea. Rambuttan which is popular locally is also exported to many countries.

Kasuni Madumali Edirisooriya,
Little Flower Girls’ College,
Bandarawela.

Stop smoking!

Many people smoke cigarettes, cigars or beedi. They do not understand the dangerous results of this habit. Cigarettes, cigars, and beedi are made using tobacco which contains nicotine, a very toxic chemical. This is said to be a very powerful cancer causing agent. This chemical goes into the smoker’s lungs.

On the other hand this poisonous chemical spreads everywhere with the smoke that comes from the cigarettes, cigars and beedi. This way, others around the smoker also inhale it. Then they also suffer the fatal effects of nicotine. Now that we understand the dangers of smoking, let us avoid this bad habit.

Renuga Vinowaran,
Garde 4A,
Leighton Park International.

I’m a tusker in the Kandy Perahera

Winner:

I am Raja, the tusker of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

I am proud to carry the casket that contains the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha.I too respect the Buddha very much. So, everyday I worship the Buddha with flowers.

On the day of the Perahera I am dressed in an expensive costume. I like that glittering red costume. It is very beautiful, but I feel very hot when I am covered with it because it covers my ears and trunk too. I am very proud of my long tusks.

I am glad when foreigners come to watch the perahera. When I walk close to the people they stand up.

At first I did not know why they did so but now I know that it is done as a mark of respect for the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha which I carry on my back.

The Diyawadana Nilame walks behind me as if to protect the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha.

I’m very tired when the perahera ends. However, I always stay calm until the perahera is over.

Sanara Wickramarathna,
Grade 8G,
Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 5.

Historical places in Sri Lanka

Winner:

Sri Lanka has a proud history of more than 2500 years. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Yapahuwa are some historical places in Sri Lanka which stand testimony to its proud heritage.

Anuradhapura was the first capital of Sri Lanka. The kings who lived in the ancient times developed the city by building tanks and improving paddy cultivation. King Dutugemunu, King Parakramabahu, King Datusena and King Mahasen were some of the famous kings who ruled Anuradhapura.Polonnaruwa too is a famous historical place. King Vijayabahu and King Parakramabahu ruled Polonnaruwa. The Parakrama Samudraya was built by King Parakramabahu the Great.

Sigiriya too is a famous historical place built by King Kasyapa. He built a beautiful palace on this rock and made it his kingdom. It is now a World Heritage Site.

Dambulla and Yapahuwa too are very famous historical places.

There are many temples and religious places in these two cities which are of great historical significance. Mihintale is another place with great historical importance, especially as it is the cradle of Buddhism.

When we read about the historical background of our country it is quite evident that Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon or Serendib, was a well-developed country in the political, economic and religious fields from ancient times.

Chanya Fiori,
“Brilliant Stars” International College,
Nupe, Matara.