Lions

The lion is one of the biggest wild cats. Thick long hair, called a mane circles his face and makes him look even bigger. Golden fur covers his strong body. People call this cat the ‘King of Beasts’.

On grassy plains in Africa, the lion rules. He is a powerful predator that can kill animals as big as
buffaloes and giraffes.

Flowers make a beautiful world

By Sandunika Chamali (Grade 8), Mahanama College, Monaragala

There are various kinds of flowers. Some flowers are beautiful but some flowers are ugly. We grow flowers in our garden for beauty.

There are various colours of flowers. Some flowers are red like the red rose, shoe flower, Ashoka. Some are blue like katarolu and blue lily and some flowers are yellow, white and other colours. An example for yellow is Ahela. Examples for white are wathusudu and Jasmine.

Some people grow flowers as their hobby. This hobby is good for our health. We can worship Lord Buddha by offering flowers. Flowers can make a beautiful environment around us.

Trees are our friends

By Indunil Rupasinghe (Year 12), Ferguson High School, Ratnapura

We all have friends that are animate and inanimate. Trees are our inanimate friends. Trees are very
useful both to man and animal. We get food from them. We get medicines, wood, shade and oxygen from them.

Most of the oxygen that we breathe comes from them. If trees vanish from the world, man and animals will also vanish soon.

A tree makes fruits, flowers, branches and shade. All these are for us. It stands in the sun and makes shade for us. Trees are related to us from birth to death. When we are babies, we rock in a cradle. And when we die we sleep in a coffin. So there is no other friend to man than a tree.

Holocaust poem

From an overseas reader

By Onesha Liyanage (14 years), Dr. Challnon High School U.K.

In Germany the bells ring,
To signify hells awakening,
A sudden cry, a muffled scream,
A Jew’s belief torn at the seam
A mother’s cry to save the children,
Shattered glass from a Jewish building,
Hitler’s army standing tall
Preparing for the Jews’ downfall.

Packed away in crowded trains,
A kind of fear not to be named
Silent prayers and good old days,
Memories burning, smoked away.
A little boy holds a toy,
His tiny hands a-trembling,
Far away in a distant place,
Concentration camps are recruiting,

The young and old,
Their hearts a cold,
There is no voice for these people,
Their human rights so weak and feeble.
One by one they’re ushered in,
A tilted gas chamber, full to the brim.
From up above, the pellets train,
On people proud and now ashamed.

But it is a lie, Hitler’s nation,
Shrouded in fear and frustration.
Though only a few live to tell the tale,
The horror of the holocaust still prevails.
Shouts of joy as they’re liberated,
Some faith still intact but some taken.
Poems and stories, films and books
The memories in the cemeteries,
Of the holocaust live on.

The day I went whale watching

By Lakindu Kariyawasam (Grade 5), Richmond College, Galle

I went whale watching on February 26. We woke up early in the morning and went to the Southern Naval Headquarters in Galle. My father’s friends and their families joined us on the ship.

We got on to a Navy ship. We passed Matara and reached Mirissa, where the whales were. We waited a little while for the whales to appear. At once we saw a giant whale coming out of the sea. The whale got a deep breath by blowing water thought its blow hole. We saw about ten whales doing the same. Sadly, one had got an injury on its tail.

After watching the whales for about two hours, the captain turned the ship and started the journey back to Galle. The captain let us into the control room. I learned a lot about how the ship is navigated. We got out of the ship after thanking all the navy officers.

After we got out of the ship, one of my dad’s friends invited us to lunch at Mirissa Hotel. We had a sea bath and a yummy lunch. When we came back home we were very tired.

My class teacher

By Hasitha Jagoda (Grade 6), Sussex College, Negombo

The name of my class teacher is Miss Kalpana. She is beautiful. She is kind and patient. My teacher is punctual and devoted. Sometimes she is strict. She teaches us English and English Literature.

She wears beautiful saris. She helps me in my studies and always teaches us with a smiling face. She loves all the children. I like my class teacher very much.

82nd Battle of the Maroons

By Pradeepa Ariyadasa (Grade 9), Ananda College

Ananda and Nalanda Colleges are brother schools which have a great history. The big match held for the 82nd time was a great help to renew brotherhood among the children and it was known as the 82nd Battle of the Maroons. Our big match was held on March 5 - 6, at the SSC Grounds.

On the first day the Anandians won the toss and chose to bat first. For the 1st innings they scored 156 and the Nalandians scored 109. In the evening umpires had to declare the match due to the turbulent weather.

On Sunday morning the Nalandians continued the 2nd innings. They scored 197 for 7 wickets. At 5.30pm the match was ceased. According to the above scores, our big match was drawn.

All the people who were gathered to the ground, ran to the pitch and had great fun. It was the end of the cricket battle between two brother schools.

My trip to Jaffna

By Dilanka Wimaladharma (9 years), Royal Institute Int. School, Nugegoda

On December 26th morning, we went to Maduruoya. We had breakfast at the Hingurakgoda Air Force Camp. When we were going through Maduruoya we visited the Dimbulagala temple. Then we went to see the Maduruoya dam and the park. We saw a few elephants in the park. That day we stayed at the Army camp bungalow.

On the 27th, we went to Mullativu. On the way we saw the fallen water tank and the memorial of Hasalaka Gamini, which is an exhibit along the roadside. We had lunch at Killinochchi. When we reached Mullativu we saw the bullet-proof vehicle, bunkers, boats, swimming pools and bungalows used by Prabhakaran, and the Nandikadal lagoon. On the 28th morning, we went to Jaffna.

We stayed at the Pillaiyar Rest House. In the evening we visited the Nallur Kovil and the Jaffna Library. On the 29th we went in a Navy boat, to visit the Nagadeepa temple and the Nagabhooshini Ambal Kovil.
On the 30th we returned home. On our way back, we visited Dambakolapatuna where the Sangamitta Therani landed and also the Dutch Fort in Neduntivu as well. It was a memorable trip.

My ambition

By Fazlan Faiz (12 years), Minhal Int. Boys’ School

Everyone on earth has an ambition. This ambition changes from time to time. But I have in my mind an ambition which I would never change. My ambition is to become a doctor. A doctor is a person who is qualified to help people and cure them when they are sick.

I had this ambition since the age of 5 years. I was inspired by Dr. R. M. De Silva, who saved my friend from a heart problem. My friend and his family were sad when they got to know that he had a hole in his heart.

This doctor did an operation successfully and cured him. To be a doctor, I have to do Science for both O/L’s and A/L’s and get through with a good grade. Then I have to join a Medical University and do my degree in Medicine and after I finish my MBBS I can practice at a hospital. I pray to God to fulfill my dream and I will work very hard for it too.