Environment pollution is a global problem. The different kinds of pollution are; water, air, noise and garbage. Several countries are trying to tackle the problem. By recycling waste you get bio-gas and compost for plants. Plastic is re-used, glass is crushed and re-used, tins are crushed into sheets to
re-use, thereby reducing pollution.

In some countries like China, they are reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Most people
travel on their bicycles or use a car-pool system.

Garbage is thrown on the road and it starts to rot and smell. When shopping bags are thrown, drains and rivers get blocked. The solution to all this is to use compost bins.

Water gets polluted from factories which send out dyes and chemicals which has an effect on the fish and plant life in the water. Our drinking water gets polluted too.

So, it is high time that we in Sri Lanka educate our people to stop throwing garbage on the road and to start re-cycling and re-using as much as possible.

Christmas celebrations

By V. Divya (Grade 6), Kingston College International, Colombo 15

Christmas is the grand festival celebrated by Christians. It is celebrated on December 25. Christians celebrate Christmas because Jesus Christ was born on that day.

The streets and houses will be filled with enjoyment. People decorate the streets and houses with many things. They will have Christmas trees in each and every house and will decorate it beautifully. They make sweets and distribute to the neighbouring people, relatives and friends. Santa Claus comes and gives gifts and parcels, sweets and toffees.

Everyone will fill their hearts with joy to celebrate Christmas. People light fire-crackers in the night and all the streets and houses will be happy and colourful with colourful bulbs and lights.

In church there will be special holy prayers. People will pray to baby Jesus to help them to go in the correct path. Everyone will feel better in their lives and will be joyful.

Myself

By Amathulla Aliasger (Primary 1), Burhani Serendib School

My name is Amathulla Aliasger. I am six years old. I go to Burhani Serendib School. I like to eat ice-cream. I like to drink Milo. I am fair, thin and tall. I go to Elocution class. I have many friends. My birthday is in January. My brother's name is Abizer.My favourite subjects are English and Maths. I like to read the Funday Times. I love myself.

My school

By Venura Hettiarachchi (Grade 5), Ramasingha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya

My school is Ramasinghe Vidyalaya. It is at Dalugama, Kelaniya. There are 350 students and 24 teachers in my school. My principal is Mrs. A. Jayawickrama and the primary section head is Mrs. D.M. Attapattu. My school slogan is "Dhammo Hawe Rakkathi Dhamma Chari." I love my school.

A dream I had

By Hiruni Cooray (9 years), Bishop's College

Yesterday, I had a dream in the night. It was wonderful. It was a busy day in our house. My mother was sweeping the floor. My father was doing some work in the car.

As it was school holidays, my brother was doing some homework. My grandfather was working with a painter and my grandmother was cooking.

The whole house was busy except me. I was bored, so I went downstairs. I thought that my younger sister would be down. But she was missing. I went outside near a tree. I heard a bird humming. I looked for the bird. Then I saw a wonderful bird.

You all know that birds don't have human heads, but this bird's face was just like my younger sister's face! Though the face was human, the bird had green wings and the other parts were like a bird too. I felt crazy when I saw this! I reached out my hand and the bird came near me and hopped on my finger.

The bird and I lived happily ever after. This was the swee test dream I have ever seen.

My mother

By Sabran Ameer (Grade 1), Harrow International College, Colombo 6

My mother's name is Rizona. She is a housewife. She works hard at home. She washes our clothes and cooks our food and also goes to the market to buy things. She cleans the house.

She is very kind. My mother gives me everything. I love my mother very much. My mother loves me very much.

The parrot

By Binali Madubashini (13 years), I.C.O., Colombo 9

The parrot is very beautiful. I see parrots in the trees. It always sits on branches. It has two wings. They are large and very beautiful. The parrot uses them to fly.

It is green colour. We have hands but the parrot has wings. The parrot has a very beautiful bill. It is like a hook and it's like a question mark. It is red and yellow. The parrot has a beautiful ring around its neck. The parrot has two legs and it has two small, beautiful eyes. The parrot doesn't have teeth.

Some parrots can talk. Its body is thin and long. It is very pretty and always happy. The parrot eats fruits. It likes ripe mangoes, bananas, papaw and all kinds of fruit. It is a very nice bird to keep as a pet. My favourite bird is the parrot.

School holidays

By Iyadh Khan (7 years), Royal College

I like school holidays very much. I don't need to study a lot or do any homework. I can spend time playing, watching lots of cartoons and drawing. My mother will not shout at me to study.

I can visit my Appa, Wapamma and cousins in Chilaw. I hope to enjoy a very long holiday.

My pet

By Minna Azmy (10 years), Lexicon International School, Kandy

My pet is a parrot. Its name is Pauly. It is red, purple, orange, green and yellow in colour. It always eats fruits and grains. It speaks very well. It has a red beak. My pet is very beautiful. I like it very much.

Who is Jesus Christ ?

By P. S. Anthony (14 years), Ananda College, Puttalam

He is the creator of the world, God's son, who came to this world in a human form not to rule, not to have a chat and live life. He had a mission set by his father. God saw the world is full of sin and he cared for the people and wanted no man to perish.

So he sent his only son (Jesus) to this world to die for our sins. He was crucified on a cross. Yes, he was crucified on a cross because of our sins.

His blood washed away our sins, and he rose from the dead three days later. All this happened because God so loved the world, that he didn't want all the people to perish, but to have everlasting life with the creator.

The cat

By S. Sivaranjani (13 years), St. Bernadette's College, Chilaw

People keep cats as pets. Cats are pretty animals covered with soft fur. They are of different colours. Some are black, white, some are brown and some are grey. Kittens or young cats are very playful. They will play for hours with little balls, fallen leaves or bits of string.

The chief use of a cat is to catch mice and rats. Like their big cousins, lions and tigers, cats can see in the dark. They hunt for mice at night. Mice are a great pest in a house. A cat will kill or drive them away. Cats have been tamed for thousands of years. They were kept as pets in ancient Egypt.

Cats are very different from dogs. Dogs love people but cats love places. A dog will follow his master
anywhere. But cats love the comfort of the house and like to stay at home. Its love is what we call '
cupboard love.'

My favourite sports

By Resith Peiris (11 years), Royal College

My first favourite sport is Chess. It is a world sport. I like chess. My sister and father like chess. I have a medal for chess. My grandmother can play chess.

It's played with a chess board. It's played with men. When the game is over it is checkmate. It has a king, pawns, rooks, knights, queens and bishops. I have a chess board. My grandfather can't play chess.

My next sport is badminton. It is a very important game. Badminton is played with badminton rackets and shuttlecocks. I like it very much. My school has badminton courts and a badminton team. My mother and father can play badminton. My sister likes badminton.

My nenda

By Rome Ushettige (8 years), St. Anne's M.V., Lunuwila

My nenda's name is Miss. Menike Adikari. My nenda is a teacher. She is from Anamaduwa. My nenda is a Buddhist lady. She teaches in an International School in Negombo.

My nenda is boarded at my house. My nenda is very kind. She likes to eat milkrice with 'lunumiris.' She gets up at 5 o'clock in the morning. Her favourite TV programme is the News. She helps me do my homework. She has black hair. She can cook well. My nenda has one parrot and two dogs.

The role of a newspaper

By Shewuri Pinto (14 years), Thihariya Islamic International School

Newspapers play an important role in the society. They bring us news from all parts of the world. Newspapers have become an indispensable feature in modern life.

A newspaper is considered the cheapest means to get all local and foreign news. It provides news on every field. We read local news, advertisements on products, editorial and articles written by
distinguished writers.

The editorial of a newspaper voices the public opinion. A democratic country like Sri Lanka has a free press. They have the right of expressing their ideas independently. Newspaper publishing companies get foreign news through news agencies and reporters and local news through provincial correspondents.

A newspaper helps to form public opinion on many burning issues. The service rendered by a newspaper is enormous. Newspapers help rulers to fulfill the shortcomings in society. They also reveal various corruptions committed by government officials and also about the waste of public funds.

A national newspaper can be considered the watchdog of the nation. It renders a sacred duty. A newspaper should always be truthful and impartial. Then only will it be popular among the readers.

My family

By Avishka Edirisinghe (9 years), Trinity College, Kandy

My family is good and strong. My father's name is Prasad Edirisinghe. My mother's name is Thanuja Liyanarathna. My brother's name is Ayesha Edirisinghe.

He is in Grade 8. We live in Kandy. My father works at Indra Finance. My mother owns a salon. My brother is good and kind. I love my family very much.

Dengue menace

By Nirmani Dasanayake , Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy

Dengue is a fatal disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is not spread from person to person. The symptoms of dengue fever are sudden fever, headache and a lot of body pains. Joint pains and rashes on the skin are also symptoms of dengue fever.

Mosquito breeding places can be eliminated by removing garbage, removing water collecting in potted plants and keeping the places neat and tidy. It is better to use mosquito nets, coils and electric vapour mats. Dengue patients should be looked after carefully.