How I plan to spend my December holidays

9 - 12 years

We get our December holidays on December 8.

First we hope to go to my Dad's estate in Diyagama. My best friend Dewni will also visit us there. I am eagerly waiting till December 25 because it is my birthday on Christmas Day.

We hope to go to Colombo to see my grandparents. I hope to go to Sarasavi Bookshop, Nugegoda to buy some books with the gift voucher I got from Funday Times. I will also go to the beach.

I hope to go to House of Fashion to select a Barbie doll which Santa will bring me on my birthday. I am going to select a gift for my sister too

My grandparents will be happy to see us. I will celebrate my birthday with my grandparents in Colombo.

I hope I will be able to do all these during the December holidays.

Tharushi Jayathilake
(9 years)
Little Flower Convent,
Bandarawela

I can only wait and see

A mighty, strong tree
I used to be,
With pride I used to stand
With my branches spread wide
And my head held high,
The king of all on land.

That day of horror,
I still remember.
With a flash I was split in two
The roar of that thunder,
And the flash of that light,
Still haunts me day and night.

And here I am
Awaiting my end,
The Proud and Mighty Me.
But the end I await,
I do not know what,
I can only wait and see.

Jennifer Perera
(14 years)
Kingston College International

Year end exams

Winner 12 - 14 years

The seventh day, I went to school before the exam. Every girl had a book in their hand, studying to get good marks.

I thought, at every exam why does the same girl become first. So I took a book and studied. I thought I am going to beat the girl who was first and I will be first.

I studied well and sat for the exam. First day was computer and link language. They were okay. Second, third, fourth and fifth, the last day of tests; Maths and Health. They were okay but not easy.

Then it was the last day of school, the 8th. We got our reports. I was 100% positive that I would become first this time. And I was correct. I got above 90 for every subject and was first in class.

I went home and gave the news to Mom. She gave me a hug and a kiss and told me "Fantabulous!" Do you know what it means? I have been trying to figure it out. I think it is fantastic and fabulous combined. Anyway, it was my favourite exam. Maybe because I felt proud beating a girl who becomes first each year. Wow! Now I realize why parents say to study.

Shenuka Waniganayake
(12 years)
St. Bridget's Convent

Tsunami

At the beginning sailors sailed, children played and it was all so quiet. All of a sudden a big wave from the sea crashed down on to Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. People tell stories that seven waves came crashing down.

On that day lots of people had to leave their homes and go somewhere far, far away. Hundreds of people, including children died. This happened on December 26, 2004. Some children were left without their parents.

All this was reported on the television, radio and newspapers. This disaster hit only some coastal districts. News about this spread all over the world. The army helped these people by sending messages, giving food, and other facilities. These things were divided among the poor people who suffered from this disaster.

Some animals sensed the coming disaster, and got away. The birds could fly away. Finally the sea went back, showing the damage done. Inside the Indian Ocean, there was an earthquake, then there was something like a cyclone inside the dark blue sea. This caused the huge waves to rise. The most number of people who died were in Indonesia, second was Sri Lanka and third was India. These countries were badly damaged by this disaster.

I wish this disaster would never come again to our country.

Nilakshi Manawadu
(Grade 4)
Vidura College

My wish from Santa this Christmas

I wish Santa will bring peace for my country before Christmas. So that all Christians could celebrate Christmas peacefully. Also I expect Santa to bring a lot of gifts for me, so that I could give to the poor. Oh! Santa please come to me on Christmas Eve. I will wait for you, with joy and happiness to fulfil my wish soon.

Christine Rodrica (Grade 3)
Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya

My favourite character

My favourite character is Winnie the Pooh.
Pooh was published by A. A. Milne. His son is Christopher Robin. Because Christopher's toys were Pooh and his friends, Milne thought to write a book called Winnie the Pooh.

The name Winnie the Pooh was made by Christopher's two pets. They were a bear named Winnie and a swan named Pooh.

Pooh was published in 1924. In this book A. A. Milne thought to write about his son as well. As you know Christopher is also one of the Pooh characters. Pooh is very old now. He is 80 years old. Pooh's friends are Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, Owl, Casey, Eeyore, Roo, Kanga and Lumpy. But most of all Pooh's best friend is Christopher Robin. Together they go on adventures. They all live in the ‘Hundred Acre Woods.’ I love Pooh very much and hope you love him too.

Shashindi Vithanage
Bishop's College, Colombo

A letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

Thank you for the present you gave me last X'mas and the letter you gave me.

Please bring me toys and some story books. My sister Nicola is also waiting for you.
God Bless You!

Jaimmy Nanayakkara
(Grade 1)
Holy Family Convent,
Colombo 4

Myself

My name is Nashith Wazeer. I am five years old. My school is Royal Institute. I study in Pre-Grade B. My house is in Gothatuwa. My best friend is Rahma. I like to eat buns. I like to drink orange juice. I have a brother and a sister.

Nashith Wazeer
(5 years)
Royal Institute

My pet

My pet is a cat. It's name is Rosy. Rosy is black and white. Rosy likes to eat meat and fish. It is very nice. I love my pet

Poojanie Chandrasena
(7 years)
Musaeus College

God is Love

God is love, love your God
God loved us first,
Loved us best in Christ.
For there's no greater love.

We must love, love everyone.
With this love that comes from God.
Love brings peace, peace brings hope.
And hope never disappoints.

Taani Moses
St. Cecilia's College, Batticaloa

I am not a thief

I am Brown Paradise Flycatcher, a resident bird in Sri Lanka. I have a relative in India called the ‘Indian Paradise Flycatcher.’ He also has a crest, a black one, just like me. But his body and feathers are white. He also visits me every year at the end of August.

I eat mainly insects. I have beautiful orange and black feathers. My crest is black and my wings are orange coloured. I have two long orange tail feathers. My wife has short tail feathers. I like to live in tall trees. Did you hear my kras… kras… sound? I love to visit your garden.

When I come to your garden, children come out and shout at me calling, 'Sivuru hora… sivuru hora.’ Your parents have given this ugly name to me.

Dear children, did you see me steal cloth from you? I am a very innocent bird and I never steal cloth from anyone. I am very sad to hear this ugly name. But Professor Sarath Kotagama has given me a nice name called, 'Bora Asia Rahanmara.’ If you cannot call me by that name, please call me 'Thambili Kurulla' or give me another nice name. If not I do not like to visit your garden.

Himantha Gamage
(Grade 5)
Richmond College, Galle

Tea - our national drink

Tea is our national drink. It is popular among the young and old. Tea is also popular with millions throughout the world.

Tea was first grown at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens in 1824. During this period, a few hundred tea plants were brought to Sri Lanka from China and planted there. Later more tea was brought from Assam in India in 1839.

The pioneer who helped the growth of the tea industry in Sri Lanka was Dr. Thwaites in 1849 – 1880, who was then Director of the Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya. In 1867, a Scottish planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on eight hectares in the hill country.

During this period, coffee was the popular drink here. Two years later a disease spread in the coffee plantations and planters began to cultivate more and more tea in their lands. Soon, coffee growers uprooted their coffee and began to plant tea in their lands. By 1872, small quantities of tea were exported for the first time.

In 1880, the first tea auction was held in 1884 by the Tea Traders Association. By 1990, two-hundred and fifty thousand acres came under tea cultivation. With the expansion of tea, there was a need to do research work in tea cultivation. So in 1928, the Tea Research Institute was set up in Talawakelle. Thus today tea has become one of the principle exports of Sri Lanka.

Suvimali Perera
(Grade 10)
St. Joseph's B. M. V., Kegalle

My village

My village is Dodangaslanda. It is a very big village. It is a beautiful village. It is in the Kurunegala District. My village is very famous in my area.

There are many houses in my village. They are very new ones. There are many people living in my village. My village has a temple, post office and school. Many of my villagers are farmers. They grow fruits and vegetables every year. My village people are very kind and helpful. So I like my village very much.

Madushika Vickramasingha
(11 years),
Royal International School

My trip to Nuwara Eliya

My father, mother, brother, sister and I went on a trip to Nuwara Eliya during our school holidays. Our grandmother lives in Nuwara Eliya. So we stayed there with her.

We went to Victoria Gardens and played in the children's park. I saw various flowers and trees and took some photos of them.

The next day we went to 'World's End' and had our lunch there. It was very cold and windy.

We bought some flower plants and vegetables to bring back home.

I will always remember the flowers and the beautiful tea crops in Nuwara Eliya.

Rashmi Perera (Grade 3)
Sri Sangamitta B. N. S.,
Matale

Scooby Doo the lovable Great Dane

Scooby Doo is a lovable cartoon character. He is a Great Dane. Scooby can talk. He is very greedy. Scooby's favourite food is Scooby snacks.

Scooby's mother's name is Mumsy Doo. His father is Dada Doo. He has four brothers and one sister. His sister is Ruby Doo. His triplet brothers are Dooby Doo and Skippy Doo. The other brothers are Yabba Doo and Howdy Doo. His sister's son is Scrappy Doo.

Scooby has four friends. They are Shaggy, Freddie, Velma and Daphne. They solve mysteries. Scooby is very scared of everything. But he is the hero at last. I like Scooby and his friend Shaggy.

Samith Ailapperuma
(7 years)
Trinity College, Kandy