Winner: Mothers are special

Mother’s Day is celebrated by all children to honour their mother. On this day children show their love and kindness to their mother in many ways. This day brings memorable thoughts about a mother. We were born because of our mothers. She carries out her duty with sincerity. My mother advises and guides me on the correct path.

When I was small she fed, dressed and took care of me under trying circumstances. She kept me away from danger.

My mother teaches me. When a child is born and grows up, most often the first word a child says is ‘mother’. She is the only person with whom I can share my happiness and sorrow.

Her love and kindness is unlimited. I expect love and kindness from her and she too expects it in return. My mother always takes care of us. In return we also take care of her.

Mother’s Day is celebrated throughout the world. I wish all mother’s a Happy Mother’s Day. The key for my success is my mother.

F. Nusra Ibrahim,
Grade 8B,
Sailan International School

Winner: A tree talks..

Good morning! I am a mango tree. I give wood and tasty fruits. Children like to eat my fruits. I am tall and strong. I breathe through the leaves.

I need water, minerals, carbon dioxide and sunlight to live. My roots help me to absorb water and food from the soil to stay firm. I have green leaves. They contain a green substance called Chlorophyll which helps in photosynthesis. I breathe in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen for human beings and animals.

Help me to grow and do not cut me until I die.

K.H. Budmi Janithi Senethma,
Grade 6F,
B/Dharmapala Secondary School,
Bandarawela.

Winner: The countryside

I like the countryside because it is very quiet and peaceful, whereas towns are crowded, dusty and noisy. I prefer to live in a calm and quiet environment.

We can breathe fresh air. The air is polluted in towns which will make us unhealthy. The country roads are clean with plenty of greenery around. Towns are crowded with vehicles and buildings.

In the countryside we see rivers, waterfalls and paddy fields. People are friendly and helpful.

I like the countryside very much.

L.M.Anoj Lasantha,
Grade 6C,
President’s College,
Kelaniya.

Winner: How I spend my leisure...

I spend my leisure collecting seashells. Collecting seashells is an interesting hobby that keeps me happy. I have an amazing oyster that I have kept in a glass box. It looks very nice.

I also have a fish tank and I have put seashells in it. My hobby gives me a lot of fun and helps me to learn a lot.

It keeps me occupied.

Irudhayanathan Grace Nirmaleen,
Grade 9B,
St. Patrick’s College,
Talawakelle.

Winner: Child abuse

Child abuse is one of the major problems in society and in Sri Lanka too. The abuse of children will affect their rights. Every child has a right to live freely in society and be educated at the correct age, but now young children are employed to earn for the family.

When parents go abroad for employment, children are neglected. The young ones are looked after by older sisters and brothers. Some children are abused when they are kept in homes as domestics and are paid a minimum wage. They have very little freedom.

Most crimes such as kidnapping, demanding ransom and robberies take place with the help of young children. Children are abused by their elders and outsiders.

The government should take immediate action to solve this menace. Child slavery should be banned. Every child of schoolgoing age should be given a compulsory free education. Young dropouts from schools should be used for the benefit of the country. Then this problem can be eradicated from the country.

Kottage Hasini Sewwandi,
Grade 10,
Sripalee College,
Horana.

An unforgettable incident

It was a cold winter morning and I got up late to go to school. It was past eight and our school starts as 7.30 a.m.

I did not have breakfast and I rushed to school. The morning period was already over. There was complete silence. I thought I would get punished. I stood at the door of my class.

My class teacher looked at me angrily and my classmates were watching me too. I felt ashamed for coming late. I apologised to the teacher, and she allowed me to join the class, cautioning me not to be late again.

I made up my mind to be punctual in future.

Indumini Y. Samayadasa,
Grade 4J,
Asian International School,
Boralesgamuwa.

A portrait

Her brows are a mystery,
Her eyes are sharp,
And yet when you look at them,
They look so calm.
She never talks,
Her lips never move,
Is she attempting a smile?
Or is it a frown?
I looked at her from the left,
I looked at her from the right,
I even tried from upstairs,
But she never stops looking at me.
Why doesn't she look away?
Why are her eyes following me everywhere I go?
Does she know me?
Or do I know her?
I talked to her,
I shouted at her,
But she never responded,
And never moved.
Then I realized whey she didn't
I remembered why,
She wasn't like us,
She was famous.
Not only now,
But even then,
Everyone came to look at her,
And so, this is why, she knows me.

Kumudika Dharmaratne,
Grade 12 – Commerce,
Lyceum International School,
Wattala.

Colour poem

Red tastes like sweet strawberries,
Red smells like scented roses,
Red feels like soft velvet,
Red looks like sparkling rubies,
Red sounds like a sizzling sausage.

Amiee Tanisha Dennis.