I have four pets. Three of them are dogs and one is a cat. The dogs names are Simba, Sheba and Ginger. I play with Ginger. Simba is very naughty because he eats all the pipes in his play area. He also eats all the garbage.

The day I became a hero

By Sanumi Ranasinghe (Grade 3), Lyceum International School, Nugegoda

It was morning and I was very happy because it was my sports-meet. I got dressed in my sports dress and tied my shoes. It was a hot day. I went on my bicycle to the stadium. There were many people in the stadium. Some were holding flags.

I wanted to run the 100 metres. I was a little nervous before the sports-meet began. I wanted to try my best for it. The race was going to begin and the starter gun went off. I started to run as fast as I could. I won the 100 metres race.

I was exhausted after running. After a while I was given a golden cup for winning the race. People were shouting with joy. I felt very happy about myself.

Nipuna Prathiba 2009

By Nethmi De Silva (Grade 4), Sujatha College

My school variety show took place at the BMICH. All the students of Sujatha College took part in this show. All the children came there at 2.45p.m. We all wore our costumes and slippers. When I arrived there, my teacher put on some hanging earrings on me.

Then we went to the hall to put on makeup. My friend Azquiya and I put earrings on the other children after they finished putting their makeup. Then our teacher put a band on our heads.

We were doing a western dance. It was like a forest dance because Tarzan and Jane were there. Then we took our bags and went to the balcony to wait for our dance to start.

At 6p.m. the senior band played to welcome the chief guests Mr. Sanath Nandasiri and Madam Nandasiri. The first item was a Pooja dance. After 17 items it was our turn. We climbed onto the stage and performed. After many more items the show was finished.

Afterwards my parents took me and my sister to a Chinese restaurant with my cousins. The concert was a huge success.

When a teacher is not in our class

By Ahamed Ahzin (9 years), Amal International School

When a teacher is not in our class, the boys start shouting. Then the next class 4A, gets disturbed. So the teacher in the next class gets angry and asks who was playing. Our English teacher often gets disturbed and scolds us.

Most of the teachers give us a warning. When there are no teachers in our class, some of the boys stand up, shout, play or go out of the class, while some of the others sit quietly.

When a teacher sees us, she comes inside the class and tells us to stand outside the class, some tell us to kneel down and some teachers hit us.

This type of behaviour is bad and we should try to be good. Like me, I wish that all the other boys also behave well.

My malli

By Kusalya Fernando (5 years), St. Bridget's Convent Montessori

I have a malli. His name is Savi. He likes to play with me. Both of us go to school by car. I love my malli very much.

My school

By Sanindi Perera (8 years), Colombo South International College

My school is Colombo South International College. It is at Kalubowila. Mr. Daniel Edirisinghe is the
principal of our school. I'm in Grade 3A. My teacher is Mrs. Suganthy Coilpillai.

She is very good and kind to us. She teaches us lessons and good habits very well. I can also never forget my Grade 2 teacher Mrs. Peumika Wijeyaratne who guided us very much.

Our school is very big. It has a lot of classrooms, science laboratories, computer labs, libraries, an auditorium and a basketball court. Our school motto is 'Learn to serve.' I love my school very much.

My teacher

By Isuri Subasinghe (8 years), Musaeus College

My teacher's name is Mrs. Chandrika Dissanayake. She is in her middle age and looks very professional when she wears sarees in Indian style and when she wears her spectacles.

I call my teacher "Miss." Sometimes I also call her "Chandrika Miss", because her first name is Chandrika. In our class, Chandrika Miss teaches us many subjects like English, Buddhism and Mathematics. Her favourite subject is English although my class is a Sinhala medium class.

My favourite subject is English too. Other than the theory lessons, she does a lot of practical activities with us. My teacher is hardly absent because she doesn't like us to be in the classroom without studying.
I always feel fortunate to be one of her pupils. Finally I would like to say that:

She is my favourite teacher,
She is my best friend
She is my mother at school
And I love her very much

My brother's birthday

By Tharin Dabarera (7 years), St. Peter's College

My brother's birthday was on October 21. It was my younger brother's 2nd birthday. His birthday cake was a bear holding a cricket bat and a ball. He was so fond of the cake that before the party started he kept his palm on the cake.

He was so happy when we were singing 'Happy Birthday.' He cut the cake with Amma. Amma asked him to feed us a piece of the cake but he refused and he ate it by himself.

He was dressed in my 2nd birthday shirt and pants as well as my sister's 2nd birthday frock. He looked very cute in all the costumes.

I pray that my chooti brother will grow up and be a helpful person to society.

My little brother

By Raveena Chandrakumar (6 years), Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy

My little brother's name is Shree Ganesh. He is three years old. He likes to watch 'Tom and Jerry' cartoons. I love my brother very much.

I am a mug

By Maryam (10 years), Gampola International School

I am a mug. I am made out of plastic and also glass. I have a small handle. I am pink in colour and I have a small and beautiful picture on me. Some people use me to drink water and beverages.

Sometimes I am also kept in glass cabinets. I am sad if anybody puts me down because I will break. But some people use me very carefully.

South West Monsoon

By Dileepa Tissera (12 years), Ecole Internationale, Digana

Sri Lanka experiences two main monsoons. They are called the South West monsoon and the North East monsoon.

The South West monsoon prevails between the months of March and September. During this period very heavy rain will fall in some of the provinces which are in the way of the South West monsoon.

The provinces which face the monsoon are the southern province, western province and the central province. During the monsoon, rain comes with strong winds which cause many damages to houses. The roofs of many houses fly off and the people have to undergo many inconveniences.

Low lying areas also get flooded with rain water. School children cannot go to their schools, so they miss some of their lessons. The electricity supply often gets interrupted because of the trees or branches falling down onto electric cables.

The monsoon sometimes brings very good news to the farmers because they get enough water for their cultivations. The reservoirs get filled and there is enough water to generate electricity.

Hence the South West monsoon is a hazard as well as a blessing for our country.

My school

By Nuhansi Wijesinghe (7 years), Nakara Primary School, Darwin, Australia

My school is Nakara Primary. It is in Darwin in Australia. It is great. I have lots of friends. There are some Sri Lankans in my class. The library is great because there are fantastic books and great games. School starts at 8.15 a.m. and finishes at 2.40 p.m. There are about 500 children in my school.

The school uniform, is a blue T-shirt and a skirt with a symbol on it. On the symbol there is a plane
saying 'Aiming high' on it. The symbol is there because a plane landed in Nakara and had 'Aiming high' on it.

There are three houses in school named Earhardt, Johnson and Hinkler. Earhardt is the green house, Johnson is the yellow house and Hinkler is the red house. I am in Earhardt. Earhardt has won lots of times during our sports day.

An incredible relationship

By Samith Ailapperuma (10 years), Trinity College, Kandy

We have all heard of animals that adopt young ones of other species but this relationship was incredible. We all know that lions are predators. However, this lioness in Sambara Reserve in Kenya set aside her predatory instincts to adopt a baby oryx.

The lioness had four lion cubs of her own but she loved the oryx calf more than her own cubs. Wherever the calf went, the lioness followed and protected him.

The calf did not know that he was in a dangerous place because this lioness lived in a pride. This relationship had a sad ending.

One day when the lioness was resting, the calf went a bit far away from her. At that moment a male lion caught the oryx calf. At once the lioness heard a noise and rushed towards the calf, but it was too late. The lion was stronger than the lioness. All she could do was sadly watch the lion eat the baby she had looked after so carefully for sixteen days. It was a very sad incident.

My first day in school

By Dewmalee Jayamanne (Grade 4), Sussex College, Kurunegala

My mother prepared milk rice for breakfast. She woke me up at 5 o'clock. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. She dressed me in a clean uniform. I took my breakfast. Then I worshipped my parents and went to school with them.

The name of my school was Ceylinco Sussex College. Now it is called Sussex College. I was sent to a class. My class teacher greeted me with a lovely smile. Some students were friendly with me. They called me to play with them.

The first day I cried a lot. My teacher gave me a paper to draw on because I was crying. I will remember this day all my life.

Children's freedom

By Dinali Wijayasooriya (13 years), Kekirawa

The children in our world are very innocent and they should have the freedom to get love and care. Innocent children become orphans due to the violence of war. They should get love and protection.

They are like twinkling stars that shine and sparkle in the sky. We have a special day for it, World Children's Day. People help orphan children and hold many programmes for them.

It is a very happy day. There are a number of songs for the children of our world. 'Heal the World' is one of them. It tells us about the little orphan children of war. They need love. We should get our freedom and live happily to light our world.

My motherland

By Osanda Sadathana (10 years) Rahula College, Matara

My motherland is Sri Lanka. It is a beautiful island situated in the Indian Ocean. Sometimes it is called 'The Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. Sri Lanka has a hot and wet climate. The coastal parts of Sri Lanka are flat. The central parts are hilly. Its main crops are tea, rubber and coconut.

The capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. The commercial capital is Colombo. It has a large number of beautiful rivers. The longest river is Mahaweli. The tallest mountain is Piduruthalagala.
The President is Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa. I love my beautiful island.