Lord Buddha is the leader of Buddhism. He was born in Lumbini, 2552 years ago. King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya were his father and mother. They named their little son, 'Siddhartha', which means "Doing meaningful things". He was good at learning. When he was young, he married a queen named Yashodara.

Later he despaired about life and abandoned his wife and new-born baby Rahula and went into the jungle with his minister Channa and his horse Kanthaka, to become a priest.

He then cut his hair and left all his personal belongings. After that he started fasting. This venture lasted for seven years. But later he stopped fasting and started meditating.

On a Vesak full moon Poya day he became enlightened. Then he taught people about what he had learned, the way to Mokshaya. Millions of people benefit from his teachings even today.

The three wishes

By Imesha Fernando ( 9 years), St. Bridget’s Convent

One day as I was walking, I saw a golden lamp in a bin. I took it and rubbed it. Suddenly a genie appeared in a cloud of smoke, and told me that I have three wishes.

The first thing that came to my mind was to go to the time of the dragons and dinosaurs. In a few seconds I was in a jungle. Suddenly I saw a large egg, bigger than a bus. I took a picture of it.
As soon as the flash came on, a little pink dinosaur popped out of the bushes. So I videoed it.

I saw a mountain with a cave and went inside. Using my torch I looked around. I saw a tiny dinosaur and realized it was wounded. I nursed it with great care. We became friends. We played, slept and hunted together. One day we saw a huge T-Rex in front of us. I ran in fright but turned and saw the little dinosaur with T-Rex.

I realized it had found its mother. I took the lamp out and wished the dinosaurs a happy life.
I then thought that my mother would be waiting for me. I said farewell to the little dinosaur and went home. The lamp

vanished from my hands. Back in my room, I wrote in my notebook about 'My Three Wishes'.

My pet

By Binuri Aluthgamage (10 years), Methodist College

My pet's name is Timmy. My mother brought it to me for my birthday. We gave it milk from a milk bottle. After two weeks, it opened its eyes. We were so happy that day.

My father named it Timmy. It grew up soon. When we play, it also plays with us. His favourite game is Hide and Seek. When we hide, Timmy searches for us.

When my mother starts cooking, he comes with his plate. Timmy's favourite food is rice and fish curry and his favourite drink is milk. Timmy is a male dog and he is brown in colour. I love Timmy very much.

Myself

By Vinuli Weliwita (10 years), St. Bridget's Convent

My name is Vinuli Weliwita. I go to St. Bridget's Convent. I am ten years old. I am in Grade 5. I have one sister. Her name is Methma. My mother's name is Poorni and my father's name is Ruwan. My hobby is collecting stamps and sea-shells. Now I have lots of stamps and sea-shells.

I like to swim and I can run. I was born in 1999. My class teacher is Miss. Asha Liyanage. She is very good. My ambition is to be a teacher. I like Maths and ENV. My best friend is Dinindu Suares. My mother is a lawyer and my father is a businessman. I like to eat cake and I like to drink Milo. I love myself.

My best friend

By Rushdha Mohamed (Grade 1), Crescent Girls' School

My best friend's name is Soraya. She is my cousin. She goes to Methodist College. She is in Grade 1. She is five years old. Soraya's favourite colour is orange. Her favourite drink is orange juice. She likes to play with me. Her hobbies are, watching cartoons and writing letters. Her ambition is to become a teacher.

Healthiness

From an Overseas Reader

By Aravinth Jebanesan (Grade 5), Toronto, Canada

Health is very important. Parents care about their children. It is said that you should have up to 60 - 90 minutes of physical activity a day for children. Healthy lunches and foods should have at least one meat and alternative item, one grain product, one vegetable and fruit item and one milk and alternative item.

By eating meals following these food groups and staying active, you can reduce the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer and osteoporosis. It also
provides benefits such as better overall health, lower risk of disease, a healthy body weight, more energy and stronger muscles and bones.

Many artificial drinks are not very healthy. Did you know that one can of cola has 10 teaspoons of sugar in it? Pure drinks such as water, milk and natural juices are very healthy.

You should limit your intake of chocolates and chips because they are not very healthy. Playing sports such as badminton, football, running around etc., is a great way to stay active and grow healthier. So remember to eat healthy and stay active.

Village life

By Dileepa Tissera (Grade 6), Ecole Internationale, Kandy

Village life is very different from that of town. Towns are very noisy and the air is polluted too.
Villages are very calm and people do not pollute the air, because there are no factories and only a few vehicles are driven.

In towns, people throw garbage to the bins on either side of the roads. When the bins get full they start flowing along the streets. The Municipal Council's trucks come rarely to collect the dirt.

However villagers make use of garbage. They put garbage into an enclosed place. Garbage turns into compost after a few months. This fertilizer is very useful to them because their mainstay is farming.

The villagers are very friendly with each other. They go for each and every ceremony in the village. In villages the people are more or less equal. In villages there is plenty of space for children to play. In the evening many children get together and play. Transport and education is poor in
villages. So people go to nearby cities for higher education. It seems to me that village life is simple and calm.

A pencil speaks

By Himanjalee Uthpala (Grade 6), Sirimavo Bandaranaike Model School, Galgamuwa

Now I belong to a small girl. She looks after me very well. It is a pity that I have to be in a box. My other friends are pens. They seem to be very nice.

Each day I grow shorter and shorter. I was born in a factory. The factory people cared for me. But finally I was put into a small box with others and sent to a shop.

A man came to the shop and bought me for three rupees. Now I live with his daughter. I am very happy to be with her.

A family outing

By Zikra Makeen (10 years), Cambridge English College, Beruwela

Last month my father took my family for an outing. Early morning my father, mother, sister,
brother and I went to Bentota beach in our van.

It was a sunny day. There were lots of picnickers at Bentota. When we reached there, we had some snacks and a soft drink. Then we went to the beach.

It was beautiful. We had a nice bath. After a bath we had a delicious lunch and enjoyed tasty
ice-cream cones.