Esala Perahera – a spectacular pageant

Winner:

During the reign of King Kithsirimewan (Megawarna) Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha brought the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. From that time, the Esala Perahera paraded the streets for the past 258 years. It is a very important pageant to the Buddhists.

There are two segments of the Esela Perahera – the Kumbal Perahera which lasts for five days and the Randoli Perahera which parades the streets for another five days. The Randoli Perahera is more significant than the Kumbal Perahera which is dedicated to the four Gods Paththini, Natha, Vishnu and Katharagama.

The Maligawa Perahera is the most important because the casket containing the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is taken in procession by the Maligawa tusker. This procession leads the other four devala processions.

The entire Esala pageant consists of whip-crackers who herald the main Perahera, drummers of different kinds, and Kandyan and low country dancers from various parts of the country.

There are about one hundred beautifully caparisoned elephants, glittering with coloured bulbs, that add glamour to the Perahera.

The Diyawadana Nilame is the most important person in this procession.

There are Nilames of the four devalas too who go in the procession.

The Esala Perahera is a beautiful sight and thousands of people from all over world visit the hill country to watch this spectacular Perahera. Sri Lankans are very proud of it as it portrays the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Usitha Kodithuwakku Arachchi,
Grade 7 A2
(English Medium)
Sri Chandananda Buddhist College, Kandy.

Obey the Highway Code

Winner:

Travelling is an essential part of life. Everyone engages in some form of travel as it is unavoidable in day-to-day activities.

We use the road mostly to make our various journeys. There are three types of people who use the road. They are the pedestrians, motorists and passengers.

The highway code should be followed at all times when we use the road. Pedestrians should use the Zebra crossing when crossing the road.

Unfortunately, many people do not abide by the highway code and become victims of motor accidents.

Jay walkers are the main cause of many accidents. Driving while being drunk too leads to accidents and the loss of many lives. Driving at high speed is another factor that has led to may accidents.

The Government has taken various steps to prevent accidents. Introducing stringent laws to take action against those who violate road rules is one way of minimising such accidents.

It is up to all citizens to follow the law in order to lead a healthy, safe and happy life. By abiding the highway code we can ensure road safety. As children let us adhere to the highway code to the letter and help prevent accidents that result in loss of life.

Shani Razzak,
Grade 10 L
Ilma International Girls’ School.

A valuable message

Winner:

May 15 was a special day for students as well as teachers of our school because of the environmental walk organised by the staff. This walk was organised to show the people how much we care about our environment by carrying placards with environmental friendly slogans.

Everyone was thrilled about it. All the Hejaazites wore their sports outfits with a green flag and a badge. Prior to the walk, the mayor of Dehiwala - Mt.Lavinia, Danasiri Amarathunga gave a speech.

He spoke mainly on ‘dengue’ which has proved to be a dangerous disease. He said that dengue can spread rapidly during the rambuttan season because once the fruit is eaten the cup-shaped shells which are ideal breeding grounds for the dengue mosquito are carelessly thrown away all over the place. Water can collect in them because they are waterproof. Mosquitoes lay eggs in these shells and one shell has space for mosquitoes to lay about a thousand eggs, the mayor said. If approximately five rambuttans are eaten by a person and these shells are separated into two and thrown all over the road, “Then how many mosquitoes can be born out of the eggs from 10 shells?” he asked. This is how dengue spreads.

The main aim and focus of the walk was to make Mt.Lavinia the best city in Sri Lanka by getting the citizens of the area to be more committed to improve the city.

We started our walk from the school and reached Galle Road at 8 am.

The Grade Three students were dressed as flowers. All of us were holding placards and some were distributing leaflets to the public. People read our placards with interest. An hour later, we reached our school safely. We had a food fiesta at the school. We were very happy that someone, somewhere would follow the slogans on the placards and make not only Mt.Lavinia, but also the entire country the best place in the world to live.

Arshad Hameem,
Grade 7,
Hejaaz International School,
Mt.Lavinia.

Stop destroying rainforests!

Winner:

The world we live in is a wonderful planet with a huge expanse of vegetation cover comprising many types of forests. The vegetation seen in the world includes tropical forests, savanna grasslands, rainforests and dry mixed forest. Out of them, the most important category is the rainforests.

Rainforest means a forest which lies in the equatorial regions of the globe that has a favourable temperature and receives a maximum amount of rainfall throughout the year.

The Sinharaja Rainforest in Sri Lanka, the Amazon forest in South America and the Congo rainforest in Africa are some of the best examples of rainforests in the world.

Rainforests are actually friends of mankind since they assist man in various ways. There are many advantages we get from them. Rainforests provide oxygen, numerous habitats for many creatures, help maintain the hydrosphere, control the temperature and keep the balance of the environment and so on.

Rainforests are home to many endemic species of birds, animals and plants. They also help to stop global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen. It results in the purification of air. Not only that, they also assist to conserve the soil. Rainforests are a good support in the photosynthesis process and the water cycle. They help the maintenance of rainfall too.

Rainforests are a popular tourist attraction. So, they are a source of income too.

Even though humans get many benefits from rainforests, unfortunately they are becoming extinct today due to deforestation and carelessness of humans.

They cut down trees for the timber industry and other illegal activities such as chena cultivation which reduce the forest cover.

Poaching in the rainforests also affect the biodiversity. Due to deforestation many endemic species of plants and animals are destroyed. Sometimes foolish people set fire to these valuable rainforests for various purposes without paying any attention to the environmental pollution or damage they cause.

Some pollute the water bodies in the rainforests and this destroys nature.

As nature lovers, we should take quick measures against the pollution and destruction of rainforests. Strict rules and regulation should be imposed and stringent laws introduced to punish offenders.

International committees should be set up to protect them by making people aware of their valuable contribution to humans and animals.

As children are the next generation to inherit the world in the future, we must join hands to protect these precious gifts of Mother Nature.

I believe this is the most appropriate time to get together and protect rainforests for a green future. It is the duty of the citizens of the world .

S.N.B.M. Hiruni Amasha Wijesooriya,
Grade 10-P (English Medium),
Tholangamuwa Central College.

Importance of sports

Winner:

Sports help us to maintain good health ,so it is essential to our life if we want to stay physically fit. It also leads to good mental health. A healthy person who does sports has a lot of advantages in life.

However, you cannot become a physically healthy person by engaging in sports alone. To remain physically strong and healthy you have to eat plenty of nutritious food and practise good hygiene too.

There are many sports activities we can do. Some of them are cricket, badminton, rugby, volleyball, tennis, rowing, cycling and netball. Those who engage in such sports learn how to obey the leader and work together as a team.

People who are actively engaged in sports generally conduct themselves well and refrain from getting involved in any unlawful activities.

Sports teaches us how to accept both victory and defeat in the same spirit. Nobody can win all the time. Therefore we have to learn how to face defeat in life.

There are some people who do sports as a profession. For example, many cricketers are professional players who bring honour to their country.

They also earn a good income. Anybody can take part in sports. Today even some differently-abled people can be seen doing various sports. This is a healthy sign. What is more, there is no age barrier to do sports. Both the young and the old can reap the benefits of sports.

G.H. Sithira Chandula Ariyadasa,
Grade 9,
S. Thomas’ College, Mt.Lavinia.

Isn't my name magical ?

Nobody can see my name on me.
My name is inside and all over me;
unseen
Other people also keep it so
Isn't my name magical?
My name is mine only
It tells I am an individual,
One special person it belongs to
Even if I am with hundreds of people
And my name gets called,
The sound if it switches me to answer
Like its my human electricity.
Now isn't that magical?
My name echoes across playgrounds,
It comes, it demands my attention.
I have to find out who calls,
Who wants me, for what.
My name gets blurted out in class,
It is a terror, at a bad time,
Because somebody is cross.
My name gets called in a whisper
I am happy, because
My name may have touched me
With a loving voice
Isn't it all magic?

S.H. Bumidi Dananjika,
Brilliant Stars International College,
Nupe, Matara.

The wind

I can go anywhere without anything
And strip all tree, leaves in Autumn
I can drive a ship, or make waves,
I can take a house top,
Or scents of a pink rose,
When I am angry, I rave and riot and break houses
When I am nice, I stay quiet and calm.

Kusala Gayathri Akmeemana,
Grade 3,
Ecole International, Digana.