• The heavy downpour
• Was Sanath a run making machine?
• My beautiful country

The heavy downpour

It was a Monday morning suddenly about 5.00 a.m I was awakened by a sudden peal of thunder and a flash of lighting. I got frightend. There was heavy downpour. I felt like sleeping at little longer but immediately it came to my mind that it was a Monday and I had to go to school. I reluctantly jumped out of bed. I peeped through the window. The rain fell in torrents. Our compound was full of water.

I had to get ready to go to school. I felt lazy and I sat on a chair. My mother asked me to get ready for school. Anyway I got ready and dressed myself. I stood at the door and watched vehicles going on the road. The road in front of our house was ankle deep in water. The drain overflowed. A part of the road was like a lake. A person in a white cloth and banian was walking slowly holding an umbrella. A private bus came very fast and water splashed on that person. His white suit was drenched. He screamed and cursed the bus driver. I saw that and felt very sorry for the man.

Anyway I got into the car and went to school. There were only a few children. Some came, one by one and when the bell rang for school to begin, there were not many children. A few teachers had come. The Principal came round the class and later announced that it was a holiday. I was very happy and went back home.

In the afternoon I heard that some areas have been flooded and certain houses were under water. According to the news on the TV there had been earthslips at Kadugannawa and part of the railway line was covered with earth. About five houses were completely covered with mud. In the evening I went to see some areas which were under water. I saw a man going across carrying his dog. There were people who were taking shelter in the nearby school. I felt very sorry for the people as I came home.

B.A. Imesha Sanjeewani,
Convent of Mary Immaculate,
Matara.

Was Sanath a run making machine?

Today all over the world people are becoming increasingly fond of cricket. The first Cricket Test match was played in Melbourne (Australia) in March 1877. And since then more than 800 players have taken part in the Test matches played all over the world. Lanka's Sanath has broken many world records. People call this world famous cricketer "The Master Blaster".

He was born on June 30, 1969 and comes from Kotuwegoda, Matara. He played his first One-day match against Australia in 1989.

His number of centuries were 6. His number of half centuries were 19. Also he had taken 123 wickets. He was the first Sri Lankan to take 100 wickets in One-dayers.

The explosive start which Sanath gives helps Sri Lanka to win matches. Because that's the only secret of every match that Sri Lanka had won. With his explosive batting and all round performances in crucial matches of the Wills World Cup he was adjudged the "Most Valuable Player" and the "Man of the Series".

People will never forget this great cricketer who made runs like a machine.

Farrah Farook,
Hillwood College,Kandy.

My beautiful country

My country is Sri Lanka. It is an island in the Indian ocean. It is called "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean". The capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. There is an International Airport in Sri Lanka at Katunayake. Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is the President of Sri Lanka. There are many Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka. Peradeniya Park is very beautiful. Dehiwala Zoological Gardens is very nice. I am proud of my country. I love my motherland.

Sumudu Madushani,
Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya,
Kiribathgoda.