Do we know how the environment plays an important role in our life? We must have a clean environment. For that we must also protect the environment. That is why the UNO has declared June 5 as the World Environment Day.

"Many Species One Planet One Future" is the theme for this year. This year has been focused on Biodiversity. Though our country has a huge diversity of species, many are under threat of
extinction.

Many plants and animals have been endangered. As the human population increases, deforestation, fishing and hunting increases, which in turn, takes the species to extinction. Deforestation affects the natural beauty of the environment and the lifestyle of the different species which depend on each other. All animals basically depend on plants for food and shelter.

The cutting down of trees breaks the food chain. Trees also absorb carbon dioxide from the air and increase oxygen, which makes the environment healthy.

Let's take some steps forward to save the environment by recycling waste materials and ban polythene.

My friend

By Hussain Latiff (7 years), Amal International Boys' School

My friend is Farazath. He is six years old. He likes to eat cake and bread. He likes to drink juice. His favourite colour is green. He goes to Amal International School. He comes to school by motorbike.
I love my friend.

A visit to my grandmother's house

By Ruqaiyah Rafeek (9 years), Lyceum International School, Nugegoda

It was the month of April. Signs of happy days were to come. But my family and I were about to lose something too soon. After my father came home from work, he told all of us to get ready for a visit to our grandmother's house. I started to think why. Could it be good news or bad news?

Till we arrived at grandma's place, all of us were silent in the car. When we stepped into the house the good news turned bad. I saw my grandpa on bed, unable to speak. It was his last few days with us. Looking at grandpa made me cry. He would be leaving us at any moment, but I tried my best to be with him as much as I could.

We went home, and I couldn't stop thinking about him. The next day at 10 a.m., the phone rang.
My sister picked up and I ran to her to know what had happened. She started to cry. Then I knew it was worse than bad. It was the 2nd of April and my grandpa had left us.

I attended his funeral that same day and I still pray for him and ask to meet him in Paradise.

My school

By Thihansa Ranaweera (Grade 4), Musaeus College

My school's name is Musaeus College. Our school principal's name is Mrs. Dandeniya Madam. My school is a private school. My school has tall buildings. There are classes from Grade One to Grade Thirteen.

Our school is a big school. My school has 6000 children. Our school has 300 teachers. My school is a famous school. I love my school very much.

My favourite cartoon

By Venan Sureshchandr (Grade 5), S. Thomas' Preparatory School, Colombo 3

My favourite cartoon is Scooby-Doo. There are five characters in it. It goes on Sirasa TV, Cartoon Network and Boomerang. The five characters are Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby. There are four dogs in it. They are Scooby-Doo, Scrappy-Doo, Scooby-Dee and Scooby-Dum. They catch ghosts and monsters every time. They go in the Mystery Machine. They solve mysteries.

They find clues every time. The cartoon goes on TV from Monday to Friday. Scooby and Shaggy are greedy for food. I like this cartoon because it is funny. I like Scooby-Doo.

Education

By Anitha Pulendran (Grade 6), Kingston College International, Mutwal

The word education comes from the Greek word 'educo'. It means bringing out the values of man. When a man is born into this world, he is born with intelligence and values. But it is only education that brings them out. Thus education plays an important role in a man's life.

Education does not mean mere book learning. It consists of moral values too. We must know what is good and what is bad. It is only education that will help us to discriminate between good and bad.
The main aim of education is character building. "If wealth is lost, nothing is lost.

If health is lost, something is lost. If character is lost, everything is lost" goes the saying. Education moulds a person to be a better member of society.

Myself

By Ravishiya Malithi (Grade 3), OKI International School, Kotikawatta

My name is Ravishiya Malithi. I am eight years old. I'm in Grade Three. I have long hair. I live in Battaramulla. I am going to OKI International School (Kotikawatta).

I like to eat mangoes. My drink is orange juice. My birthday is on April 27, 2002. My favourite subject is Maths. My favourite colour is pink. I want to be a teacher when I grow up.

My pretty doll

By Malki Kannangara (8 years), Lanka Sabha Junior School, Battaramulla

My pretty doll's name is Teena. She is two years old. My pretty doll can cry, but she cannot eat rice.
She can sing and dance. She is very beautiful.

I love my pretty doll.

My favourite singer

By Nethmi Fernando (13 years), Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa

My favourite singer is Justin Bieber. He was born in Canada on March 1, 1994. He is 16 years old. His father is Jeremy Bieber. His mother is Pattie Bieber. He is a famous singer. He can sing well. He can play the guitar, trumpet, piano and drums. He also can speak fluent French. His favourite music is
R & B and Pop. His favourite artists are Usher and Michael Jackson.

There are many songs of Justin's such as 'Baby', 'One more time', 'Never let you go', 'Love me', 'You smile', 'Ini Mini' and much more. He has completed a new album called 'My World' including all these songs.

His songs are so famous. He has won many awards. He is a very talented singer. I am a huge fan of Justin Bieber. I hope someday I will get to meet him.

Earthquakes and volcanoes

By Shameena Rayen (10 years), Adventist International School

Two powerful forces of nature that are rarely out of news are earthquakes and volcanoes. They can both cause great damage and danger to the people. Earthquakes and volcanoes help to shape
our earth by forming mountains, valleys and islands.

Everyday there are about 3000 earthquakes. Most of them are so small that no one notices them. About once a week there is an earthquake big enough to cause a little damage.

Each year about 50 volcanoes erupt on the land. This causes hundreds to die and thousands to flee their homes. It can erupt sometimes violently, throwing out pieces of rock and ash along with the magma which is known as lava. Sometimes magma erupts under water. A few volcanoes erupt all the time. A volcano that erupts is said to be active.

There are about 1300 active volcanoes in the world. The volcanoes that have not erupted for a long time are sleeping. If a volcano hasn't erupted for thousands of years it is said to be extinct. There are even more volcanoes under the sea. Sometimes when one of these erupts it forms a new island.

The butterfly

By Janindu Jayawardana (Grade 2), Trinity College, Kandy

The butterfly is an insect. It has colourful wings. It is very beautiful. It flies from flower to flower to suck nectar. The small children love butterflies.

Newspapers

By Jeewangi Sankalpana (Class 8), Swarna Jayanthi M.V., Kegalle

Newspapers are a source of information. We can get knowledge from reading newspapers. There are Sinhala, Tamil and English newspapers. Some of them are Funday Times, Junior Observer, Lankadeepa, Lakdiva, Sithumina and Weerakeshvari.

We read them at leisure time. They are not expensive. We can improve knowledge. We can read newspapers anywhere and can bring newspapers anywhere.

Newspapers have headlines, local news, foreign news, children's stories, cartoons, vacancies, marriage proposals and obituary notices.

Some newspapers are published monthly, daily, and weekly. All the people get newspapers. It is a source of information. Newspapers are very useful to life because they give knowledge to our lives.

A journey to Dunhinda Falls

By Nuha Rizan (Grade 5), Oxford International College, Badulla

We started our journey at 9 o'clock on April 22, 2010. I went there with my sister, aunt and uncle. We parked the vehicle on the side of the road. There were boutiques on either side of the rough path which leads to the falls.

We bought corn from one of the vendors. When we were walking on the extension bridge, we saw monkeys on trees. We had a nice time. We gave corn to the monkeys.

We saw Italians and said hello to them. When we were walking ahead we saw a mother monkey feeding the baby. We took photographs too.

Finally, after a couple of miles passed, we came to Dunhinda Waterfalls. The water was as white as snow. We ate biscuits and drank juice. We rested there for a while and we started to come back home.

Vesak

By Nelunika Kapuwatte (7 years), Gateway College, Kandy

Vesak day celebrates the Birth, Enlightenment and the Death of the Lord Buddha. It is a religious festival for Buddhists all over the world.

Every year it falls on the full moon day of the month of May. On this full moon poya day, Buddhist people go to the temples and worship Lord Buddha.

Electrically lit pandols, colourful lanterns, dansalas and bhakthi gee singing by girls and boys can be seen on this day.

Rainy days of April

By Ashvini Marapana (Grade 6), Royal International School, Kegalle

The month of April is famous for heavy rains. Every day in the evening it gets darker. There is loud thunder and lightning. It seems like the sky is very angry.

Because of the rain the drains, streams and rivers are filled with water. Our garden has many muddy pools. There are strong winds. Old trees and big branches fall on the streets.

We have power cuts very often. There are floods and landslides in many towns. When I go to sleep it's very cold. I hide under my blanket and go to sleep.

What I like to do in the morning

By Kajaruban Thanjeyan (Year 1), St. John Bosco, Jaffna

I wake up at 5.30 a.m. I have a wash. Then I say my prayers. After that I get to my studies.
Then I get dressed. After breakfast, I start for school at 7.30 a.m.

My unforgettable day

By Chathurya Jayawardana (Grade 5) Sacred Heart Convent, Galle

My 'Bappy' went to Korea three years ago. That day was my unforgettable day. On that day, a lot of friends and neighbours came to meet him. He asked us to give a rupee. But I didn't have a rupee. So I gave him a two rupee. I still remember it.

He had dressed in a white shirt and black trousers. He put his clothes in a big bag. My grandmother gave him a glass of water full of flowers on the doorstep. He drank it and worshipped my grandparents. He told me to get many gold medals and show him when he came to Sri Lanka.

He will return to Sri Lanka at the end of this month. I'm, waiting impatiently till he comes.

From an overseas reader

A day I will not forget

By Nethaka Amarakoon (6 years), Ashmore State School, Australia

Our flight to Australia was on May 19. It was raining so much there were floods. My Appachi took a boat. We all got into it. Mother carried Nangi , father hugged me. I was afraid, I closed my eyes.

We came to the airport and got into our plane. It was a very bad day, too much rain and floods and I was very sad to leave Sri Lanka.