Giant animals like elephants can be regarded as an asset to the country. But in Sri Lanka elephants are under the threat of extinction. Most wild elephants live in huge jungles like Yala and Wilpattu and many other sanctuaries. They need a lot of plants to survive.

Some elephants die off naturally by getting dangerous diseases. Many others die by getting onto railway tracks, especially when they cross the railroads.

A lot of elephants die or injure themselves by falling into cultivation wells. Elephants have become the prey of people who love their tusks, hairs, teeth, skin etc. People clear off the forest for development, so elephants come to villages to eat the farmers' crops because there aren't enough plants for them to eat in the forest. To prevent elephants from destroying their crops,
villagers fix electric fences.

Different organizations have opened orphanages for baby elephants who are lost in the forest.
The Department of Wildlife says there are 3,000 – 3,500 elephants in our forests and about
75 – 100 deaths are being recorded every year. The government alone can't protect wild elephants, we all should help.

Trees

By M.Z.F. Shimara (7 years), Cinnamon Gardens International School

Trees are very useful. They give us food. They give us shade. They give us flowers. They give us medicine. They give us wood. The trees grow very tall but some trees are very short.

Some people try to cut trees. Without trees we cannot live. We must protect trees.

My school anniversary

By Rizma Rahmathulla (Year 2), Gateway College, Kandy

My school is Gateway College, Kandy. It is the best school in Kandy. It has many buildings.
My school is 10 years old and we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary. We are having a mela at school on July 31 and August 1, 2009.

There will be many stalls in the mela and lots of things to buy. There will be fun and games for
children and adults.

Our home garden

By Shamla Ilham (9 years) Benhill College, Gampola

We have a very big home garden. It has lots of flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs, such as jak, nelli, banana, olive, coconut, papaw, drumstick, ixora, anthurium, orchid, shoe flower and curry leaves.

My grandfather and grandmother look after the garden carefully. I water the plants every evening. Our home garden is very beautiful. I like my home garden very much.

My favourite sport

By S. Vanaja, Sri Sivasathi Vidyalaya, Galaha

My favourite sport is cricket. It is a team event. My favourite cricketer is Sachin Tendulkar.
A cricket team consists of eleven players. It is an international game. It is an interesting game. We watch cricket matches on television.

My favourite cricket team is the Indian team. Cricketers get a lot of money as salary. Sri Lanka won the Cricket World Cup in 1996.

My trip to Kandy

By Gaviru Wethmin (Grade 3), Ceylinco Sussex College, Negombo

We started our trip from school at 5.30 a.m. We sang songs in the bus. On our way, we had our breakfast in the bus at 8 o'clock. First we went to Gannoruwa Agro Park about 10 a.m. We saw many plants. There were so many bees and butterflies on the flowers.

At lunch time we went to Ampitiya church. It is very beautiful. We had lunch there. Then the priest showed us the library. We saw many books on its history.

Next we went to 'Dewsathhala (Osu Uyana)'. We saw ducks, turkeys, dogs, eagles and hens. Then we came back to the church and took some photographs.

Our last stop was at the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa). Before entering, we removed our shoes and socks. Then we offered flowers to the Tooth Relic and worshipped by
reciting stanzas. Next we went to the shrine room and saw many statues.

Finally we came back to the bus. On the way back, we saw Bible Rock. While travelling back to school, I fell asleep and woke up when we reached the school. I will remember this lovely trip forever.

An unforgettable incident in my life

By Senuri Perera (11 years), Musaeus College

One day my mother and I went shopping and bought some clothes. After that when we were coming out of the shop an alarm rang. We were surprised as everyone looked at us, as if we had stolen something.

The security officer told us that something had gone wrong and he wanted to check our bags. He found nothing wrong and then he wanted to check my mother's handbag. He found a tag on it. It was the security tag which had triggered the alarm. It had been given to my mother when she entered the fitting room and my mother had forgotten to return it.

My mother explained everything to them and then we came home. That was an unforgettable incident in my life.

My country

By Nusra Nazar (9 years), Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda

Sri Lanka is an island. It is situated in the Indian Ocean. There are many neighbouring countries to Sri Lanka such as India, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The closest country to Sri Lanka is India. Sri Lanka is close to the equator.

The National Day of our country is on the 4th of February. There are 25 districts and 9 provinces. The majority race is Sinhalese. The President of Sri Lanka is Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister is

Mr. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake. The administrative capital is Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte and the commercial capital is Colombo.

There are many waterfalls, lakes, mountains, rivers etc. The longest river is the Mahaweli, the tallest waterfall is Bambarakanda and the highest mountain is Pidurutalagala.

The eagle

By Ahamed Sulaiman (Grade 1), Minhal International School

The eagle is the king of birds. It is a very large bird of prey. It preys upon much smaller birds, animals and insects. It is golden brown in colour. It has long and sturdy wings.

It can fly very high and over long distances. Its eyesight is very keen. It can see its prey from high up in the sky. Its claws are very sharp.

My mother

By Methma Vithanage (Grade 4), Ladies College

My mother's name is Viroshini Vithanage. She is 30 years old. She studied at St. Lawrence's School. She makes me yummy food. She gives me pens and pencils when I want them. I love her very much. She loves me too.

When I ask her for something, she gives me what I want. My family and I go for walks on every Friday. We have fun every time.

My mother is fantastic. She can cook well. She can sew too. I am lucky to have a mother like her.

Myself

By Dimashi Fernando (Grade 3), LPF Academy, Dehiwala

My name is Dimashi. I was born in 2001 on August 18. I am now eight years old. I live in Moratuwa. My school is LPF Academy in Dehiwala. I am in Grade Three.

My hobby is collecting stickers. I like to go out to visit my friends and my cousins and go to places in my country. My favourite pet is the rabbit and my favourite colour is pink. I love to eat pizza. I want to be a lawyer when I grow up.

A rainy day

By Tharushi Imalka (12 years), Gothami Balika Vidyalaya

The rainy season came. I looked at the sky. It was dark and gloomy. The wind blew fast. The trees began to tremble. The branches of the trees began to wave here and there. The dry leaves of the trees fell down. Fruits fell from the trees.

Suddenly the sky trembled. I saw the lightning in the sky. I heard the thunder. Then the rain began to fall down. At first slowly and later I saw heavy raindrops coming down. I listened to the pitter-patter sound of the rain.

The rain water flowed along the drains. The air became cold and misty. The muddy water filled the garden. Some people walked along the road holding umbrellas. Some others wore raincoats. Vehicles went very slowly. They blew their horns.

The rain continued for a very long time disturbing lots of people. But I like the rain very much.

My class teacher

By Aysha Farook (Grade 3), OKI International School, Kotikawatte

My class teacher is Miss. Kanchana. She is very pretty. She teaches us Science, Mathematics and Social Studies. She makes lessons interesting by cracking jokes sometimes.

She wears beautiful saris. She always encourages us to participate in all activities. Sometimes she sings songs with us at our break times. Her favourite subject is Mathematics. She is a very good teacher and I love her very much.

My brother

By Kadheeja Mehnaz (Grade 3), Ilma International School

My brother's name is Ahamed Ilham Azweer. He is three years old. He is very playful. He loves to drink milk. He loves to eat fruits. He rides his bike with me.

After school when I come home my brother will come and play with me. My brother is very pretty. I love him very much.