• How sunlight helps us
• Myself
• "The daughter who brought glory to mother"
• Squirrels
• Why I study
• Why gunpowder was used for war
• From Kumbikele to Pallekele
• Worms
• A very happy birthday

How sunlight helps us

Do you know what happens to our body when we expose it to the sun's rays? Sunlight actually destroys particular fungi and bacteria that may have settled on our skin. In another way it acts as a protective agent, activating the white blood cells and thus these cells attack disease germs in our body and help us to keep healthy. A substance called ergosterol transforms into vitamin 'D' by the sun's ultra violet rays, which is useful for our bones.

Every one should expose themselves to sunlight only in phases. Over exposure to sun can cause problems likes skin cancer.

D.Harisudhan

Kingston College International, Mutwal.

Myself

My name is Piumee Maheshika. I'm ten years old. I am in year 6. My school is Taxila Central College. I love my school. My parents are Mr. and Mrs. Dayarathna. I have one sister and no brothers. She is Gethma Gayara.

My favourite subject is English. My pet is a dog. Its name is Tommy. I love my dog Tommy. I like to drink king coconut. I like to eat fruits such as apples and grapes. My favourite flower is rose. My favourite hobby is playing net ball. I want to be a doctor.

Piumee Maheshika Dayarathna

K/Taxila Central College.

"The daughter who brought glory to mother"

There is a village called 'Warakapola'
Not in the States
But here in, the pearl of the Indian Ocean"
who cares about it?
who wants to know?
But at last, it's made a "Black Beauty"
She wasn't born with a silver spoon in the mouth.
She ate jak- but not sausages
At last...... At last........
Current champions became 'former'
Every one, every where
chanted ''Su... sa ...nt...hi...ka...''
"Who's this... From where ..."
But now they know
The "Iron girl" of Asia
Silver is enough - but not forever
In Sydney Olympics - the gold will shine
Around her neck
The lion will shine - in the sky
we Sri Lankans
will cry with joy
That girl the "Black beauty"
with her charming smile
will declare
"At last I won
Not only for my glory
For my loving motherland
The tiny isle; Sri Lanka."

Udana Livera

Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa

Squirrels

Squirrels are harmless animals, and they need much looking after, because they often become victims to cats and dogs. You should not take them from their mothers before they are about one month old. Choose a squirrel that looks healthy and with lovely lines on its back.

Don't handle the small one too much, as it will be frightened. Squirrels need a warm dry place to sleep. They like to have a box or a cage to sleep in. Small ones need milk for their food, and later they eat fruits. They should have meals often.Squirrels are independent. Looking after squirrels can be a hobby too.

Tharanga Abeygunawardena

Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara

Why I study

I study to gather knowledge and find employment. Today unemployment is an acute problem in Sri Lanka. One reason is because most young men and women are poor in English. There's big competition in getting jobs, due to the lack of a person's knowledge.

Learning is very important. Basically the person has to know how to read and write. If you don't know how to do both, you are considered iliterate. Today Sri Lanka has a high rate of lliteracy. With the introduction of free education many children started to go to school. It's a big help especially to the poor children.

I give my best to my studies, so that some day I would be able to do a good job.

Kosala Priyanath Weerasingha

President College, Maharagama.

Why gunpowder was used for war

One of the problems which man had to solve from the time when he first began to hunt was that of finding weapons which could hit a target from a distance. The more afraid animals became of man, the further away from him they kept. This led to the creation of various weapons which were thrown, and then to the bow and arrow.

The invention of gunpowder, that is a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulphur and carbon which burns very rapidly when it is lit, led to a whole series of discoveries and finally to firearms. This was a metal tube filled with gunpowder which, when ignited, caused an explosion. Heavy balls were thrown to varying distances, depending on the length of the barrel and the size of the explosive charge.

For about 600 years gunpowder was the only explosive, then in the middle of the nineteenth century, nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose were discovered, and more modern weaponry was created.

Jayani Ellapola

Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.

Stamp News 22

From Kumbikele to Pallekele

Do you remember Kumbikele in the heart of Colombo 7? Way back in 1952 the first Boy Scouts National Jamboree after Independence was held there. That's where the BMICH stands today on Bauddhaloka Mawatha (then Bullers Road).

Pallekele close to Kandy was the venue of the 5th National Jamboree held in February 1998. The other three were held at the Colombo Racecourse (1962), Anuradhapura (1983) and Kurunegala (1992).

Two stamps (Rs. 2.50 and Rs. 17) were issued to mark the 5th National Jamboree. With 'Growing Together' as the theme, the stamps featured the National Jamboree logo prominently. Rs. 2.50 stamp also depicted the flag being hoisted by a few scouts with the Dalada Maligawa in the background to signify the venue. The Rs. 17 stamp had the Sri Lankan flag and the scout logos - international and national - with a scout camp in the background.

A Jamboree enables scouts of all walks of life and nationalities to meet, camp together, learn from one another and exhibit their talents. The feeling of brotherhood is strengthened and long lasting friendships are made.

World Jamborees are held every four years. The first was held in 1920 when the founder of the scout movement Baden Powell (later Lord) was acclaimed the Chief Scout of the World. Born on 22nd February 1857, Baden Powell had a distinguished career in the British army in India and Africa moving up to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He published 'Scouting for boys' which became immensely popular, inspiring him to hold an experimental camp at Brownsea Island in 1907. The movement soon gathered momentum both in England and many other countries.

Sri Lanka saluted the founder of scouting with the issue of a 50 cent stamp on 24th May 1982 to mark his 125th birth anniversary. The stamp had a portrait of Baden Powell.

The popular scout movement was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1912, five years after Lord Baden Powell found the movement. It is an organisation engaged in the training of boys through outdoor activity, to become useful citizens. Every boy is invested as a scout on making the Scout Promise and thereafter goes on to acquire an array of skills and badges leading to his gaining the highest award in his group. Scouts are divided into four age groups each with its ultimate award. Scout leaders undergo a five-phased training programme leading to graduation in scouting.

The Head of State who is the Chief Scout in Sri Lanka appoints the Chief Commissioner. He is responsible for the technical side of scouting and heads the Sri Lanka Scout Council, the governing body for scouting. It consists of active Scout Leaders, Commissioners and lay members.

The Island is divided into 37 scout districts each under the control of a District Commissioner who is appointed by the Chief Commissioner. Scout Groups in Schools as well as Open Groups sponsored by religious and voluntary service organisations are formed in each district. Each scout group is under a Scout Leader.

Worms

Worms are soft-bodied animals, living either under the ground, in water or as parasites of other animals or plants. They are divided into four main groups - annelids, platyhelminths, nematodes and hirudinids.

Types of worms

Annelids are the segmented worms, their bodies being divided into segments by a number of rings. Many annelids have small bristles or chaetae growing outwards from each segment which help them to move about. Between the outer body wall and the digestive system is a cavity filled with fluid. At one end several segments combine to form the head, complete with mouth, eyes and brain There are three types of annelid: polychaetes, oligochaetes and hirudinids.

The polychaetes live either in or near the sea. Although very rarely seen, these worms are quite common and grow up to two metres in length .

One group of polychaetes is free-moving. They crawl about and burrow amongst the sand and seaweed. They are able to propel themselves around by means of bristly paddle-like "limbs" called parapodia. A pair of parapodia grows out of each segment of the body.

Most free-moving polychaetes have a proboscis or tube through which they feed. The proboscis, with its teeth and strong jaws, is pushed out through the mouth. To swallow the food, the polychaete withdraws the proboscis.

The second group of polychaetes is stationary. They build a permanent home, usually forming a tunnel of lime or sand. Most types feed by catching food with their tentacles which are attached to the head.

The oligochaetes, the second type of annelid, include the earthworms. These too have tiny bristles growing out of each segment of their bodies. Earthworms can grow very long; in South Africa some measure seven metres in length.

Earthworms tunnel under the ground, swallowing the soil as they go. Some species pull leaves and pieces of vegetation into their tunnels for food. The food and soil passes through the body and is deposited as a cast.

The third type of annelid Hirudinea - comprises the leeches. They have no bristles on their bodies but move along by means of two suckers, one at either end of the body.

In tropical areas leeches live amongst humid undergrowth. When an animal or human host passes by, they attach themselves to them to feed. They feed by sucking blood through the front sucker which contains the mouth.

The medicinal leech has three strong jaws which leave a Y-shaped mark on the skin. As it feeds it pumps an anaesthetic into the opening; this prevents any irritation, so stopping the host from removing the leech.

Flatworms

Platyhelminths are more usually known as flatworms. Their bodies are flat and made up of a spongy substance enclosing the internal organs. In most flatworms, food is taken in and waste food let out through one single opening.

Platyhelminths are mainly hermaphrodite. This means that each worm has both male and female reproductive organs. They are one of the most primitive groups of animals to have a central nervous system, although they have no blood system.

The platyhelminths are divided into four types - turbellarians, two kinds of trematodes (flukes) and cestodes (tapeworms).

Turbellarians vary considerably in size. Some cannot be seen with the naked eye while others measure 500 millimetres long.

The trematodes are parasites which live in or upon other animals. They cling to the host by means of a sucker. Blood flukes enter human blood vessels where they reproduce, causing disease. The liver fluke seriously harms and even kills sheep and cattle.

Cestodes are also parasitic. The head has both hooks and suckers to hold it firmly to its host.

Roundworms

The nematodes are more usually known as roundworms. Except for insects and protozoa, they are the most numerous members of the animal kingdom. They are found in many different environments, but most live in the soil. However, some are parasites of man and animals.

One type of roundworm, Ascaris, lives inside the intestine where it produces millions of eggs. These are passed out with waste food. In areas where sanitation is poor, the water becomes contaminated and the eggs infect humans with disease .

An even more unpleasant nematode is the hookworm. Again, it is common where sanitation is poor. The worm enters the bloodstream by tunnelling into the flesh. It then attaches itself to the intestine where it feeds on blood and tissue.

Nematodes are tiny hair-like worms measuring from 0.5 to l.5 millimetres long, although a few have been known to grow as long as 30 centimetres.

Ribbon worms

Nemertines are more commonly known as ribbon worms and also as proboscis worms. As this name suggests, they have a large proboscis which they can extend to catch and kill prey. When it is not in use, the proboscis lies inside the body in a cavity just above the gut.

Nemertines live mainly in shallow sea water, although some live in fresh water and a few live on dry land. They can grow to surprising lengths. For example, the average length of the bootlace worm, found in the North Sea, is five metres; one, however, measured over 44 metres in length.

Nemertines are very fragile, and can crumble into fragments if knocked or even handled. If this should happen, some of the pieces will develop into new worms.

A very happy birthday

A very happy birthday to this young lady Gayarajithni D’Alwis,who celebrated her first birthday recently. All the best from Junior Times

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