My best day

Under 9 years

My best day in this year is the day on which I was selected as an All Island Finalist for Prose Reading at the Festival of Music, Speech and Drama.

It was held at the 'Hall de Galle,' at Fort Galle.

There were so many competitions. I felt overjoyed when I heard that I was selected for the finals which will be held in Colombo.

The adjudicator gave the medals and certificates.

I came home and showed my gold medal and my certificate to my family. My parents were very happy. I took it to school and showed it to my teacher too. I hope I will get an All Island award next year.

Mohamed Shimran Kuwailid
(8 years)
Siridhamma College,
Labuduwa

The tsunami

It was a very dark night,
The stars were out shining bright.
The sea was cold and very calm,
It all looked like a perfect charm.

In the morning the sea was driven back,
People were gathered watching in packs.
All of a sudden out came big waves,
Crashing, smashing and digging new graves.

These waves brought a lot of sorrow,
Now the victims have to share and borrow.
This is a lesson we still haven't learned,
Protect nature, or she will burn.

Dedicated to the unfortunate victims of the
tsunami

Bilaal Saheed
(13 years)
Royal College

My best vacation ever!

9 - 12 years

My best vacation was when I went to Egypt. We left Sri Lanka at about one in the morning and reached Egypt at about three. In between we stopped at Abu Dhabi.

Egypt is a wonderful place. I visited the huge pyramids of Giza. The largest one was built for Pharaoh Khufu.

We even went to get blessings from our first priest Hussain who is buried in Cairo. His burial place is built by our earlier priest. Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddeen.

Egypt even has an amazing history. In history it was written that before the wars the country had about 1000 mosques, now only 800 are remaining.

This amazing place is also famous for crystal products and one shop I went to had everything made out of crystal. Even jewellery including watches were made out of them.

After spending and enjoying myself, I left Egypt on September 29.

Zainab Hussain
(11 years)
Burhani Serendib
School

If I could have a super power

12 - 14 years

My servant's mother had her leg amputated because of poverty. She could not afford an x-ray when she had broken a bone in her leg. Not knowing it was broken, she had ignored it until she could not walk. The doctors had to amputate it.

That night I mulled over the sad story related by my crying servant. My heart went out to her. It was not really their fault being poor…
Why was it that I was richer than her? If only I could help poor people by having some super power which could help them even through poverty. Just then an idea struck my head. What if I had x-ray vision…?

I would go to every poor area and with my super power, help them with their many problems free of charge. There will be much less to regret being poor then.

My heart filled with contentment at that thought. If only I had that extra ordinary gift, I will be able to show everyone that I care for the poor. I sighed. If only God gifted me with a super power, I sure will make life better for the poor, by making it more pleasant!

Ashfa Mahira
(13 years)
Ilma International Girls' School

There is no time like the present

The day was last Friday, December 15, 2006. After school, I went to the British Council. My father came to pick me up from there. Since a few days before my father knew and my little brother kept on telling, that fuel in my father's car was going to be over. Nevertheless, my father day by day kept on postponing it. Friday morning also, we reminded him about it. Then he postponed it to the evening. All these postponements took place, I must say, not due to financial difficulties.

However, on this fateful Friday, on our returning home, the car stopped halfway due to want of petrol. This happened during the evening peak hour on the busy Duplication Road.

Even I am afraid and scared to think of that terrible horrific incident, when the car stopped, in the middle of the road. As you can imagine, traffic congestion was created, and the drivers of the other vehicles started tooting horns and some others were frowning at us as if we had deliberately created a scene to make them uncomfortable.

Thereafter my father took the car to a side, opened the bonnet and the boot and switched the hazard light on, to give the indication to others that there was a problem and jumped into a three-wheeler to fetch some petrol. With petrol being refilled, ultimately the car started.

This is an unforgettable, which I would never ever forget in my life. The short message which I want to pass from this small episode is, never postpone anything! Do it now itself. There is no better time like the present. Procrastination is the thief of time.

Lasith Samayawardhena
(10 years)
Royal College

Under the X'mas Tree

"It is Christmas in the heart,
That puts Christmas in the air."

Tunes of much loved Christmas carols were sung by the kids of Bambalapitiya flats, as they sang the carols. Nativity characters-Mary with Baby Jesus in her hands and Joseph, angels, shepherds, the star and the three kings of Orient entered with gifts, reminding the congregation of the events that took place 2000 years ago.

"Let's make a difference,
Give our children a better tomorrow."

Nithipan Suresh
(11 years)
St. Peter's College

My Brother

I have a little brother,
Who is as sweet as sugar.
He's as happy as a lark,
To be in the park.

He's clean as a new pin,
After a wash,
Fresh as a daisy,
After a good brush.

Always he is ,
As busy as a bee,
And as fit as a fiddle,
To fight with me.

Though he makes,
A lot of noise in the house,
When there's a visitor,
He's as quiet as a mouse.

Sometimes he can be,
As good as good can be,
And I'm proud as a peacock,
To have him for me.

K. Kirushan
(10 years)
American International School

Paduru Party

One day my father said that there will be a "Paduru Party" on next Friday. We had not heard of a paduru party before, and we were impatient till the day came.

On that day we went on time. First we were offered dinner. We used lotus leaves as plates. We ate "Myyokka" and "Polsambol." We started singing at about 9.00p.m. All the songs we sang were old and classical. We enjoyed it a lot. We are waiting till another day like that comes again.

Lankadinee Rathuwadu
(Grade 5)
Anula Vidyalaya

My Father

My father's name is Migara. He is 38 years old. He is an Air force officer. He works in Trincomalee.

He is an old boy of Nalanda College, Colombo. He likes to play cricket. He was the vice captain of Nalanda College first XI cricket team in 1987.

He plays cricket with me when he comes on leave. I love my father a lot.

Mineth Perera
(6 years)
Nalanda College, Colombo

My pet

My pet is a parrot. It's name is Torry. Torry is seven years old. My parrot is nice and fat. He likes to eat fruits and likes to drink water. It's body is green in colour and it's beak is red in colour. He talks very nicely. Torry has a clean cage, but he makes it ugly. Torry never harms anyone. He loves children very much. I love Torry and Torry loves me. May God bless my lovely Torry forever.

Rifky Amanullah
Gateway College

Chess, a good game for the brain

Chess is a popular game in the world. We have to use our brain when we play this game. We have to think deeply. The chess pieces are named as rook, knight, bishop, queen, king and pawn. Two persons can play this game. We play this game on a chess board.

To play this game we need more time. This game develops our thinking power. Russia is famous for chess. Still chess is not a popular game in Sri Lanka. I have a chess board and I love to play chess with my brother.

Thameera Ranasinghe (12 years)
Kuli/Asseduma Subharathie Vidyalaya

Dogs

The dog is human's best friend. It is believed that the dog was the first animal that was domesticated. There are many varieties of dogs, ranging from the tiny Chihuahua to the massive Irish Wolfhound.

Dogs are used in every country as pets.

The police maintain teams of dogs as police dogs. Sheepdogs have been used to keep the sheep flock under control. Dogs were used for hunting. In some parts of the world they are used to pull carts. Dogs are used as guides for blind people.

A dog may live between 10 - 20 years.

Kanishka Ailapperuma (Grade 6)
Hillwood College,
Kandy

Unity

Unity is very essential for mutual existence. If our adults live in unity, we youngsters too can follow suit.

Aesop has told us many stories to explain what unity is. We can easily break one single stick. If we tie many of those sticks into a bundle, nobody can break it.

According to another story, a flock of doves once lived in unity. Once all of them were caught in a bird-hunter's net. But all the doves, acted in unison and flew away with the net and escaped.

On a later day they fell out. Again, they were caught in the bird hunter's net. The doves could not take a collective decision, because there was no unity among them. At last the hunter came and killed them all. So we should not forget the proverb, 'United we stand, divided we fall.'

Lochana Rathnayaka (Grade 6)
Maliyadeva BV,
Kurunegala

Buffet served here

"Lunchtime, everyone!"

Aah! Music to my ears. I am now on my way to fulfill the basic necessity of life - food - glorious food.

Thank heavens parents are concerned about their kids' nutrition. Thirteen is a growing age and food is the basic building block needed for growth.

We are now at a very critical age, and mothers throughout the world are aware they have to feed us.

"So Mum, what's for lunch?"

"Red rice, tomato salad, garlic bread, lady's fingers, brinjals, vegetable sambol and all the nutrition a growing kid wants."

Okay. Maybe food isn't the basic necessity of life. Oh…of course, how silly of me. The basic necessity - it's OXYGEN!

Piumi Wijesundara
Ecole International

My little sister

My little sister's name is Hemadri Perera. She is five years old. She likes to play with me. Her favourite fruit is apple. My sister likes to sing and dance. I love my sister very much.

Heshan Perera
(Grade 1)
Matale International School

My holidays

I like my vacation. I have my school homework. I play carrom with my friends. I really enjoy my holidays.

Kavindi Perera (Grade 1)
St. John Bosco MV,
Kaluaggala

Kumana Bird Sanctuary

This most beautiful bird sanctuary is for the birds to live very happily and freely. There are about 250 species of birds here. There are also about 160 varieties of migrant birds. They come from various countries with different climates. We can also see some endemic birds here. I think it is our duty to protect this bird sanctuary.

Husna Nazar
(14 years),
Al-Imran International School,
Kandy