Winner:

Let’s protect trees

Mother nature creates many beautiful gifts. One of which is the tree. They are important to man and animals. Do you know that trees are the longest living organisms in the world? Trees can be found all over the world. On earth, there are numerous kinds of trees. There are trees in deserts, lakes, mountains, forests, botanical gardens and home gardens. Natural forests such as Sinharaja are also abundant with wide varieties of trees. They beautify their own habitats.

Most trees and shrubs in the cities or villages are planted to provide beauty or shade. We like trees around us because they make our lives more pleasant. They breathe carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. They stop soil erosion too. They brighten every occasion of our lives. They give us food, medicine, wood and other important things. The tree is a wonderful creation of mother nature, because it is the only one which lives along with us. Trees are supposed to help us from birth to death. I think there is an invisible relationship between humans and trees from ancient times. This is why we need to protect trees.

We can start tree planting societies and campaigns to save them. At present forest cover is reduced in Sri Lanka. We can manure, water and use pesticides at the correct time.

We can go on the paths of famous environmentalists such as the ‘Red Indian leader Seattle and Arthur V. Dias of Sri Lanka..

The authorities can take necessary action to give them to future generations. The Government can take concrete steps against forest pirates. I think we are lucky to be Sri Lankans because Sri Lanka is abundant with beautiful, rare plants. But I know if we don’t stop this wanton destruction, our motherland will become a desert before long.

Think a minute, if these trees become extinct what would be the destiny of mother earth?

K.A. Kithmini Dilrangi,
Grade 9- E,
Ferguson High School,
Ratnapura.

Winner:

Friendship blooms best where there is trust

Friendship is a bond between two living beings. Whoever finds a friend finds a treasure. Every gift from a friend is a wish for happiness. According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle,”Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” That’s why we say that “Friendship is one mind in two bodies”.

First of all we must be a friend to another. By accepting the views of other friends we can easily make a friend. As you know, a smile costs nothing. Smiling with others, being interested in others, being a good listener. Having a helpful self talk, honesty, truthfulness, kindness, helping others whenever necessary, not being selfish, not hurting others and patience are some of the ways in which we can make a friend.

Is there a friendless world? No, every person likes to be a friend. It is known that good friends are true to one another. This is because they bring us happiness while sharing our sorrow.

Without friends we are unable to exist in society because we become isolated. That’s why we say friends are a boon, a divine gift. In the absence of friends, the world would be gloomy.

Friendship is a sheltering tree. True friends will not desert you in adversity. Advice and assistance given by a friend, work like a medicine. They take away the burden. A friendless man stands alone and unprotected by blows of fate. Constant effort has to be made to nourish a friendship. If your friend confides in you, keep that confidence forever. Friendship blooms best where there is trust.

B.N. Edussooriya,
Grade 8,
WP/GM/Bandaranayaka CC, Veyangoda.

Winner:

Feudalism in medieval Europe

Stubbs, a historian who had studied the features of the feudal systems in various countries defined it as “A social organization from the king down to the common people, with a basis of duties and responsibilities to make society stable”. 'Tenure' is the main economic unit of the Feudal System.

Tenure can be simply defined as a large land area given by the king to nobles, in return for their services to the state.

There are five main social states in the system of Feudalism. They are the king, pope and priests, nobles serfs and slaves.The administration of the Feudal System is based on “Individualism”. Feudalism was not a system set up by a king or an empire, it arose due to tribal invasions. Because of these invasions and trade activities, kings lost their main source of income and trade.

The Feudal System stayed stronger for a longer period of time and showed signs of declining in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Many reasons caused the decline of the Feudal System.

Because of the development of trade activities new cities emerged and caused its decline. Development of trade, increased the usage of money, spread of diseases, emergence of the middle class and famine occurred during 1315-1317.

This was another reason which caused the decline of the Feudal system in Medieval Europe.

Mishel Arundathi Koushalya Fernando
Grade 10-D (English Medium)
Girls’ College,
Dankotuwa.

Winner:

Give more to get more

There are several good qualities such as kindness, generosity, love, care and many more qualities. Generosity is being helpful in every possible way. “No man is an island unto himself”. This proverb tells us that man cannot live alone. Generosity is one such quality to be with others. There are three sections in modern society. They are the rich class,the middle class and the lower class.

All people in society can help one another. The rich can help the poor by donating a part of their wealth. While others can help each other with their labour and education skills. Nowadays many people do not like to share or give some of their belongings to others. They simply think it is a great loss and that they do not gain anything or won't benefit by giving others. Students too can donate some of their pocket money to help children in orphanages and beggars. They can save a portion of their pocket money to do so, instead of wasting it on sweets, games, food and clothes.

By helping others one not only gets a good name but god also rewards such a person. One shouldn't give charity just to show off, but solely with the intention that god shall reward one for his good deeds. “What goes around comes around”

Shahani Razzak,
10L,
Ilma International Girls School.

Winner:

The rain

When the smoke clouds become dark,
The silver droplets that fall in my eyes,
And the light and sound of the clouds,
That made me afraid and I started to run
But it was just thunder and lightning
I jumped in muddy puddles
I made myself dirty
I thought the flowers had come from underground
When the rain comes they get their holiday
The water droplets on petals
That made me feel laughter
I was wet that my mother scolded me
I love the rain and the clouds
But it was just a dream
I laughed at myself !

Fathima Seema Aasim
Form 1
Brilliant Stars International College.

Our President

Our President is Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was born on November 18, 1945 and now he is 66 years old. He was first educated at Richmond College, Galle, then at Nalanda College, Colombo and finally at Thurstan College, Colombo. He attended Sri Lanka Law College and passed out as a lawyer.

He is a Buddhist.He is married to Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa and has three sons.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was first elected to Parliament in 1970 and served as Prime Minister in 2004, until his victory at the 2005 Presidential Election. He is the sixth President in our country. He was re-elected for a second term on January 27, 2010. Our President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and he is the Finance Minister as well.

He was conferred with two honorary doctorates, Doctor of Law from the University of Colombo and the second from the People's Friendship University of Russia. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the People's Friendship University of the Russian Federation in February, 2010 at its 50th anniversary celebrations.

Supuni Weerasuriya,
Grade 8 – A,Royal Institute,
Nugegoda.

Forget the past

Today we see many people who are unhappy by thinking of the past. They think of negative situations in their lives. such as defeat, pain and failure and lose the purpose for their present life too.

No man lives happily or sadly throughout his life. Every person expensive happiness and sadness in his life. He should possess the strength to face these situations bravely. He shouldn't dwell in the past. The person who forgets the past and plans for tomorrow is intelligent. He will definitely succeed in life. We learn about many great personalities who have achieved success through many failures. For example Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison due to his action against the white people. Yet, he was elected as the President and even won the Noble Peace Prize in 1993.

It is said “forget the past, love the present and plan the future”. We should be brave in all situations and overcome the challenges we face in our lives and just not worry about failures we face.

Rasha Nilam,
Grade 10E, Hizbullah
Central College, Kurunegala.