I went on 19th May, 2010 with my Thaththa, Amma and Malla. We went in the Singapore Airlines plane. First we went to Singapore, then we went to Auckland. We went to see my aunt and uncle.

We went to Kelly Tarlton's Fish World. We went to the zoo. We went on a big bridge. It was very cold in New Zealand. We enjoyed the trip. Then we came back home on May 29, 2010

If I were a butterfly

By Hasini Panagoda (Grade 2), Kottawa North Dharmapala Vidyalaya

I see butterflies fly here and there in my garden. They adorn my garden and I love them. If I were such a colourful butterfly, I would fly high up in the air, from flowers. I might also collect some nectar for my children friends. They will be very happy to drink the nectar of flowers for they have never drunk it.

The Royal Thomian cricket match

By Akindu Karunaratne (Grade 3), S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia

It is a big match played between two big schools. This big match is important to us. The cricket match was played at the S.S.C. grounds. The match was played for three days. The Thomian tent was full of school boys. Thomians came to support the college team.

It is called the 'Battle of the Blues'. There are eleven players in each team. A trophy is given to the winning team. We all sing the College Song at the end of the big match.

A train speaks

By Oshadha Balasuriya (Grade 4), D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya

I am a train. I am the longest vehicle in the world. I have many carriages. I have a lot of wheels.
I run on the railway track. I stop at the railway stations. I carry a lot of passengers. Small children love to travel in me. I have lots of friends. I am useful to people.

I am a little bird

By Hafsa Ifham (Grade 6), Lead the way Girls' Islamiyah International School

I am a little bird flying freely in the blue skies above, in rain or sunshine. While flying I catch my prey, insects. I fly over rivers, seas, mountains and waterfalls. I get up at dawn to catch some worms. When I fly up in the sky, touching the cold clouds, I feel happy and so proud to be free. I know little children, but you throw stones at me and injure me sometimes.

I built my nest in the treetops, to lay eggs. My wife and I work hard to make it a feather bed to lull our little babies. But naughty children and also snakes destroy our home.

I'm afraid of big birds like eagles and even you little children. Please don't hurt us or destroy our homes. We never harm you, so why harm us?

My birthday

By D. Abrahamy (Grade 2), St. Bridget's Convent

My birthday is on October 4th. This year I will celebrate my seventh birthday. I will go to church in the morning. My mother will make a cake in the shape of a train. My father will decorate the house. I will help my mother to arrange the table.

I will cut the cake in the evening after my friends and relatives come. My friends will sing 'Happy Birthday' to me. We will have fun and enjoy ourselves.

Our school trip

By Gavin Senaratne (Grade 4), Ananda College

On the 1st of July, we went on a school trip. First we went to a factory called Fonterra. So we went inside the factory and saw and learnt about how milk powder brought from New Zealand is packeted. We also learnt that Fonterra is the main milk factory in Sri Lanka. While touring the factory we got to eat some yoghurt and as we were leaving we got a free mug and a single-rule book.

Our second stop was the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. There we boarded a ship called 'Sayura' which was 19.6 metres long and 6.5 metres wide. The ship was gifted to Sri Lanka by India. But before it was given to Sri Lanka, its name was 'Grahanaya'.

Next we went to the Ports Authority Museum but it wasn't quite interesting to me except for an old book which had about 3000 pages. After that we left the museum and had lunch at a 'Dana Shalawa' in a temple.

Our fourth stop was at Studio No. 3. Inside there were two rooms and then we entered the filming room and the computer room and saw how a sort of music or tune was being recorded. Next we went to see a programme called 'Adaraniya Youwwanaya' being filmed.

Next we visited a broadcasting corporation. There we saw many old radios (models of the originals) including a model of the first radio invented by Gugliemo Marconi. After that we went back to our school and we were tired out as we had been singing and shouting all along. It was a very enjoyable day.

My hobby

By Azara Badurdeen (Grade 8), Aba-beel International College

My favourite hobby is collecting stamps. Stamps were founded by Sir Rowland Hill. He was born in England on December 3, 1795. He was a teacher in a British school.

He introduced the first postage stamp to the world on May 6, 1840. Sir Rowland Hill died in Hampstead, London on August 27, 1879.

The first postage stamp was issued in Sri Lanka on April 1, 1869. Collecting stamps is a very popular hobby. Stamp Bulletins are a very useful and interesting source of information in Sri Lanka.

The Bulletins are released by the Philatelic Bureau with every new stamp issue. It is a good idea to form a stamp club to increase your knowledge. Collecting stamps will help you gain knowledge and entertainment.