Management of natural disasters

Winner:

Natural disasters are not only harmful to the humans but also to the whole biosphere. Such disasters are very dangerous.

There are many kinds of natural disasters that take place in our environment. They are floods, cyclones, tornados, tsunamis and severe droughts to name a few.

Most people do not pay attention to such disasters until they are affected by one. I like to focus on tsunamis which are a deadly form of natural disasters.

In 2004 the Indian Ocean tsunami was an unfortunate event of global proportion. From India to Indonesia, Yemen to Somalia, the magnitude and scope of the destruction ranked it as one of the greatest natural disasters in recent history.

The day was December 26, 2004. It was a Sunday and a Poya Day. On that fateful day by 6.58 Sri Lankan time, an earthquake occurred in the Island of Sumatra. Due to this the ocean bed rose and a huge wave with an enormous amount of energy was released.

There are some early signs when a tsunami is taking place. When a tsunami occurs due to an earthquake in the ocean, the water in the sea recedes. The sound of the ocean changes and animals too react before a tsunami.

To protect ourself from a tsunami, we have to get to high ground. If you are not nearby to such a place, move as fast as you can to the highest place in the area.

After a tsunami or similar natural disaster we have to take many precautions. We must control the spread of diseases and provide vaccines for those affected. One of the most important needs is pure drinking water.

As many wells and sources of clear water are affected people do not have drinking water. Dry rations must also be given. Although the effects of a tsunami are devastating we should not be hostile towards the sea.

We must learn as much as we can about natural disasters and be prepared for them.Then we can minimise their impact on human life and property.

Kaweesha Dilshani Pinidiya,
Grade 9D, Sri Rahula Balika
Vidyalaya, Malabe.

Drug abuse and its effects

Winner:

Today drug abuse has become a great threat to the entire world. Most often, drug addicts are youth, so it badly effects the development of a country.

Some people become addicted to drugs because they think they can forget the sorrows and hardships of life by taking them.

Others use drugs initially because of anxiety problems and later get addicted to them.

A few try to experiment with these harmful drugs and get addicted.

To stop this disastrous habit, the best thing we can do is not look down upon drug addicts and corner them in society but give them a helping hand to get out of the habit.

While providing them proper medical care, we have to provide good counselling to overcome their problems and beat the habit.

If they are made to realise the value of human life, they will eventually stop this bad habit.

The state and many voluntary organisations have taken up the issue of drug abuse and are doing many things to ensure the rehabilitation of victims. Stringent laws must be imposed to stop the sale of such harmful drugs.

Drugs not only destroy one’s money but they also destroy one’s health, family and life.

So, we have to do everything to eradicate these dangerous drugs from the face of the Earth!

Kaveesha Shashipriya,
‘Brilliant Stars’ International College,
Nupe,
Matara.

If there is a will, there is a way!

“If there is a will, there is a way.” This statement is absolutely true and it makes sense. If we have the will to achieve something, there is always a way. When we are born into this world, we bring nothing. We have to build and develop everything, such as knowledge and talents, as we grow up. We have to gain many things in our life through our efforts as they will not come to us automatically. Many people are very lazy. They could be people who could contribute greatly to this world. However, it is sad to say that they have failed to realise their true abilities hidden inside them. Actually, they do not have the ‘will’ to get a good hold of their inner qualities and display them to the world.

Time never waits for man it is said. So, we have to realise this and do our work on time.

If you have the determination to achieve a target, ‘will’ is the only thing you need to develop. It paves our path to success. We should also think and talk positively at all times. Never think or talk in a negative manner because this could put us on the wrong path. We should have self-confidence and courage because they will be the key elements to achieve our goals.

It is very unfortunate as many people never realise this. By the time they realise everything, most often they are too late. And that’s when they regret and start to think that they should have done this or that much earlier. Therefore, instead of thinking ‘I can’t’ and ‘I don’t know’, let’s start thinking in terms of ‘I can’ and ‘I will’, and do what you can and what you think is right. Always be positive and think about everything with a positive attitude. Then see how it does help you and society.

Madhushi Palliyaguruge,
Grade 9, Lyceum
International School, Nugegoda.

History and growth of Muslims in Sri Lanka

Winner:

Sri Lanka is a multi religious country. Even though Buddhism is the major religion, other religions such as Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are also practised. About 70 per cent of the country’s population practises Buddhism, while Muslims comprise nearly 7 per cent of the country’s total population.

The Muslims became an integral part of the Sri Lankan society through the movement of Arab, Indian, Persian and other Muslim merchants into the Island. The arrival of Muslims from India during the 19th and 20th century too contributed to the Muslim presence in Sri Lanka. An influx of Muslims to the island from Java, in the Indonesian region also contributed to the growth of the Muslim population in Sri Lanka.

Record show that the Arab traders who settled in the Malabar coast in India, used to travel to Sri Lanka on a pilgrimage to pay homage to what they believed was the footprint of Adam, which even today is called Adam’s peak. Ibn Bathutha, an Islamic traveller too visited this site. Before the end of the 7th century, a colony of Muslim merchants established themselves in Ceylon. Attracted to the scenic splendour of Adam’s Peak, Muslim merchants arrived in large numbers and some of them settled in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka.

They married native women who converted to Islam. They lived in peace and prosperity, maintaining contacts, both cultural and commercial, with Islamic cities like Damascus and Baghdad.

In the 15th century, the Arab traders controlled much of the trade in Sri Lanka. The majority of Muslims in Sri Lanka trace their ancestry to these Arab traders who settled in the country sometimes between 8th and 15th century.

They were persecuted by the Portuguese who arrived in the 16th century and were forced to migrate to the central highlands and east coast of Sri Lanka.

The subsequent Muslim communities who lived in Sri Lanka have contributed not in small means, but extensively, for the development and progress of the country in a peaceful manner.

Hajara Naleer,
Hejaaz International School,
Mt. Lavinia.

My favourite animal

Winner:

The cheetah lives in the grasslands of Africa. It is a golden-eyed animal with long legs and a slim body.

It has great energy and can run very fast. It needs a lot of space so that it can run fast and catch an animal for food. It cannot roar but it can growl in anger.

The cheetah usually eats an antelope or a gazelle. But it also kills smaller animals such as the hare.

Until a baby cheetah is sixteen months old, it stays with its mother. Then it begins to roam on its own and hunt for food. The number of cheetahs is decreasing in the world because of hunters. Now many people in the wildlife sanctuaries are working hard to protect them.

Tharik M. Thajudeen,
Grade 6,
Monte Vista College,
Gampola.

Don’t cage birds!

Winner:

I usually have my supper sitting on the branches of trees. But one day I decided to have some grains on the ground. My eyes went here and there searching for some grains. For my luck, I saw some grains in a compound of a beautiful house which was nearby. They were the most delicious grains I had ever tasted. Minute by minute time passed by as I was appeasing my hunger. Alas! All at once a little boy came and caught me. I cried out aloud, but I could not get out of his hands. Since that day I have lost my freedom. My little master treats me well and feeds me on time, however he doesn’t realise how important freedom is for a bird.

Now, I see the whole world only through several iron bars. I have lost the affection of my parents. I had a dream of treating my parents well from the day I was born. But this cruel boy has stolen my dream. He always tries to make me a parrot that speaks. I really don’t care about that.

I will definitely speak with him if only he sets me free. I dislike his parents because they never teach him that birds and all animals should live freely in this world, not in cages.

His parents encourage him to catch other innocent birds like me. I cannot live in a cage all my life. So, dear human friends, think a while and learn how to treat animals.

It is only then you will be able to appreciate nature.

A. P. Umanda Hansamali,
Grade 9E, Pushpadana
Girls’ College, Kandy

English, my favourite subject

English is my favourite subject. There are 26 letters which are called the ‘Alphabet.’ All the words of the English language are presented through these letters.To me English is a pillar of strength, especially in my education. English is a key factor when it comes to facing and working with the global community. It is the international link language.Many valuable books are published in the English language. If we don’t know the language, how can we read these books?

It is said that a person who knows only one language is like a frog in the well.

If we study English well we can improve our knowledge in many fields such as science and computer science.

If we want a good job, we must have a good knowledge of English. If we know English, we can also enjoy a good position in society.Today, the computer is an important tool in education. In fact the computer, internet and most modern technological inventions are all connected to English.

I like the English language and hope to learn it well in the future.

Savindu Hiranniya Herat,
Grade 5A, Royal International School,
Kurunegala.