Yo!! The name's Basket! I was born in a sports factory with my ball family. There was Footy (the football) and Rugg (the rugby ball) my brothers, Red (the cricket ball) and Tenny (the tennis ball) my cousins, and also my sister Netty (the netball).

We were all packed and transported to a shop. There were three bullies in the shop. Batty (a cricket bat), Hock (a hockey stick) and Rack (a racquet). They bullied us unmercifully by tossing us around and whacking us.

Then one day a boy came into the shop. He took one look at me and said, "I'll have that basketball please!" The shopkeeper put me into the boy's hands and instantly I felt very warm, because of the boy's love for me.

As soon as we arrived home, the boy whose name was Kevan took me to a large concrete space and shot me towards a basketball ring. As I already liked the boy, I went into the ring at once.

Kevan was so happy with me that he washed me after every practice and looked after me well. Each day his friends came over to play and I soon learnt to like them all. I secretly made sure that Kevan's team won, although I let the other team score a few baskets too.

I received a lovely surprise one day when Footy and Rugg came to stay with us. Five years later Kevan went to the NBA the best basketball tournament in the world to play for the Timber Wolves.

I hope some day that I will be the ball used for the game. I have resolved to go inside the ring whenever the Timber Wolves shoot. So wish them good luck and don't tell them about my plan!

Environment

By Vignesh Ramanan (7 years), S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia

Blue skies
White clouds
Green trees and
colourful flowers
Our environment gifts.

Environment is beautiful
It is our life
Environment is
wonderful
Destroy it not.

Birds are flying
Flowers are blooming
Sun is shining
In our environment.

Don't pollute the air
Don't pollute the water
Don't destroy the land
Let's protect them all

Trees are our life and soul Destroy them not!

My brother

By Kadheeja Azweer (Grade 3), Ilma International Girls' School

My brother's name is Ahamed Azweer. He is in Playgroup. He goes to Gateway College. He is
3 years old.

He likes to eat fruits, vegetables, cornflakes and rice. His favourite cartoons are Ben10, Tom and Jerry, Krishna and Richie Rich. After I come home from school he tells me that he wants to play with me.

Sometimes he doesn't allow me do my homework, he tells me to come and play with him. I love my brother very much.

My country

By Umar Mawas (12 years), Zahira College

My country is Sri Lanka. Its capital is Sri Jayewardenapura Kotte. It commercial capital is Colombo. It is
situated in the Indian Ocean.

My country's president is Hon. Mahinda Rajapakse.He has done a great service to our country. He brought us peace from the terrorists.

Our country is divided into nine provinces and twenty-five districts. Our country is divided into three zones. They are the dry zone, wet zone and semi-arid zone.

I pray for my country and I love my country very much.

Our college western band

By Vimukthi Fonseka (14 years), St. Joseph's College

St. Joseph's College Western Band is the best band among the Colombo schools. We play for many functions in the college, such as the Christmas carols, swimming meet etc. The teacher-in-charge of the western band is Mrs. Shanthi Heethawakaarachchi and the band leader is Shamil Weerakoon.

I joined the band because I love music and I'm playing the Euphonium in the band. I am proud to be in the Josephian Western Band. I wish all the band members a very successful future.

My school

By Sriskandharaja Sanjay (Grade 4), Alexandra College

My school is Alexandra College. It is situated in Maradana, Colombo 10. I am in Grade 4 in my school. In my school there are eleven classes and my school is big. I have many friends in my class.

My school colours are light blue and dark blue. My school has a playground. In my class there are 24 students. In my school we have a computer lab.

My school is a mixed school. My school Principal is Mr. Suminda and my school MD is Mr. Marlon Fernando. My school Headmistress is Mrs. Razmiya Fahim. I love my school very much.

The Royal Thomian cricket match

By Dayan Samarasinghe (7 years) S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia

The Royal Thomian cricket match is held every year. It is more than 125 years old. It is also called the Big Match. The Royal Thomian cricket match is the oldest cricket match.

We had the cricket match from March 11 to 13, this year. School closed early on the 10th of March. The boys played the papara band on the day of the match. The Royal Thomian cricket match is played by Royal College and S. Thomas' College cricketers. We look forward for this match everyday.

My father

By Aritha Rodrigo (8 years), Lyceum International School, Nugegoda

My father's name is Nihal. He works at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in Colombo. He brings me lots of toys and books. He plays with me and brings tasty food for me and my sister.

He helps me to do my homework. He lets me play only when I have finished my school work. He takes me and my sister on picnics during our school vacation. He is the best father in the whole world. I love him very much.

A rainy day

By Chathil Kumara (10 years) Republican International School, Nuwara Eliya

Rainy days make us lazy. The sky is gloomy on rainy days. I don't like rainy days. One day it was about to rain. I was playing outside in the playground. Suddenly I heard a loud thundering sound. I was frightened.

Then it started to rain. I ran as fast as I could. I jumped into the puddles and ran. My body was all wet.
There was a shop at the junction. The shopkeeper called me inside. He lit a fire and kept me near it. Little later I was dry. The rain stopped.

So I thanked the shopkeeper and went. I saw paper boats floating in the streams. When I went home my mother was waiting at the door for me. She wiped me and gave me a nice cup of hot coffee.

Sigiriya

By Nimani Karunathilaka (11 years) Holy Cross College, Gampaha

Sigiriya is a rock fortress. It stands about 19 km north east of Dambulla. It is one of the major local and foreign tourist attractions.

Sigiriya was built by Kasyapa. Kasyapa killed his father Dhatusena. Dhatusena was walled alive by Kasyapa. Kasyapa's brother was Mugallan. Kasyapa fearing Mugallan's invasion built a fortress on the rock of Sigiriya.

It was built in the 5th century AD. Sigiriya is a square shaped rock. It's about 200 m. In the rock face there is a cave. There were 500 portraits at one time. But only 22 remain today. The graffiti on the mirror wall was inscribed by the visitors between 7th and 11th centuries.

My crazy dog

By Dhasun Manawade (Grade 2), Sutherland College International

My crazy dog is very good and very crazy. It is very, very fat and can run very fast. It is a female. She likes to eat meat and drink milk. She barks at unknown people. Its breed is cross breed Fox Terrier.

She has short fur to keep her warm. She has very sharp claws. She sleeps under my bed. She has a long nose. My father bathes her twice a week. She likes to play with balls. I like my dog very much.

Our sports meet

By Subodhi Weerasekara (Grade 4) Mahasen Central College, Bakamoona

It was a sunny day. We were told to come to the school at 6 a.m. The Principal announced that the sports meet will start at 2 p.m.

We were eagerly waiting until that time came. The first event was running 100 metres race. The second event was high jumping.

We were categorized to three groups. They were called Theepthi, Keerthi and Shakthi. Our group was Theepthi.

We were lucky that Theepthi got the first prize. At the end, the drill started. It was so beautiful.
This was the best sports meet.

Avurudu

By Kalendra Abeysinghe (Grade 3) St. Benedict's College, Kandy

The time has come for us to celebrate the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, on April 13th and 14th. In the beginning of April, the cuckoo bird starts shouting and some start going shopping.

The first thing would be Nonagathe. This year it starts at 12.34 (midnight) on the 13th. During this time people would do religious activities. This ends with the lighting of the hearth at 7.01 in the morning on the 14th, facing north.

Clad in new clothes, the colour this year is light green, the mother keeps a pot of milk to boil. After 'kiri ithireema' the next event is 'ganudenu' and 'veda alleema'. The time would be 9.07 a.m. facing north. The
youngsters offer betel and worship the elders.

Elders give money or presents to the youngsters. After ganudenu they have to do some work related to their jobs. Children read a few lines from their books. The whole family then gathers round the Avurudu Mesa to have their first meal.

Next the 'hisathel gema' (applying oil on the head), is done at an auspicious time, set at 10.06 a.m., facing north on April 15. At last it is to set off to work, also set by the astrologers this year at 6.42 a.m., on April 19, facing east.

During the New Year there would be several games, kana mutti, climbing the grease pole, chakgudu, pillow fighting, choosing Avurudu Kumari and Kumaraya, bursting balloons etc. The Avurudu ends with everyone looking forward to the next year in April.

My grandfather

By Aneesha Najeer (Grade 3) Oxford International College, Badulla

My grandfather's name is Ibrahim. He is fair. His hair is grey and he has a long beard. He always wears a pair of spectacles. He works bending his back. It is because he is so old.

He is very good to me. But I don't like one of his habits. That is chewing betel. I don't like this because he spits everywhere. And his mouth is always red in colour.

I love my Seeya very much and he loves his grand-daughter Aneesha too.

My home

By Nethaka Amarakoon (6 years) Australia

I am now in Australia
I am now six
I am in a fix
Because I want
Sri Lanka
My home Sri Lanka.

My brother

By Sasuni Abeywickrama Hillwood College, Kandy

My brother's name is Sathika. He is fifteen years old. He learns at Dharmaraja College, Kandy. He is a joker.

He has a big exam. I wish he could score the best marks.

My school

By Fleming Ranasinghe (Grade 2) St. Peter's College, Gampaha

My school is St. Peter's College. It is in Gampaha. It is a boys' school. It has a playground.