| Hello Children
This hot dusty weather has brought about alot of colds, coughs and
flues. But these illnesses are not as dangerous as the cholera epidemic,
that is rapidly spreading through villages and towns alike.
Cholera is a disease which spreads through contaminated food and
water. Especially when we're hungry and thirsty, we forget to heed our
parents warning, not to eat from way side places. The thought of doing
something forbidden is also very tempting. Cholera is a disease that should
not be taken lightly as it can cause severe dehydration and even death.
So think twice before you stop for a snack at a boutique. You can
prevent cholera if you take care to drink boiled water, eat cooked or pre-cooked
food while it's hot and always keep your hands clean.
Do take care of yourselves.
Until next time,
Aunty Sunshine
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The tortoise who flew!
Once upon a time there was a long drought. All the rivers, tanks and
lakes ran dry. Fish died. There was a tortoise in a lake. He was hungry.
Every day two cranes came to that lake to eat fish. The tortoise and two
cranes became friends.
One day the cranes promised to take the tortoise to another lake where
there was water. The tortoise was pleased with the idea. Two cranes held
a piece of stick at either ends. The tortoise held onto the stick with
his mouth. Then they flew up into the sky.
Some boys saw this. They shouted "There is a tortoise flying".
The tortoise was angry and opened his mouth to scold the boys. He dropped
onto a rock and was killed instantly.
Akila Wijerathna,
St Aloysius College,
Kaluwella - Galle
The tree
Growing and growing up to the sky.
Shining and shining with fruits and leaves;
Dancing and talking with children and birds;
Frightened and excited by men and animals;
Now its leaves are falling down;
And tinged with the colour brown;
It bids good-bye to children and birds;
And sleeps in the winter for a long time.
M.M.M. Rikas
21, Model Town Lane,
Ratmalana
Harrow International College
My best friend
My best friend is Refai
He is nine years old and
Lives in Colombo 14
He is nice and good to everyone
He is very kind and helps anyone in difficulties
He can study well
He likes English and Maths
M. Vilayathulla M. Anas
Isipathana College
Colombo 5
The cow
My friendly cow, all black and white.
I love with all my heart.
She gives me milk with all her might.
To eat with apple-tart.
Sent by.Nisha Nizam
No: 111/17, Gimpatha Rd,
Averiwatta, Panadura.
To my dear "friend"
We,
Talked, laughed
And joked together,
Enjoyed our life - better than ever.
But, it's sad that I have to leave
Not from your heart,
But from your sight
You've been a true "friend" to me
Your good ways.
That people lack,
Remain unchanged,
But... unfortunately,
I have to leave you
Though I am leaving
You abide deep in my heart.
It's hard to forget you,
Cause... You've built my life,
Made me confident...
Knowing you are beside me
To share my pleasures and my sorrows
You always showed me how to smile through my tears.
You always lent a helping hand to my life
To my spirit..
I have learnt so many things from you
I have understood
That friendship is an eternal bond
That cannot be measured.
It's a thing to be earned
Though, now you and I are miles apart
You are always with me, right here beside me.
In my heart
Thank you for being my "friend"
And for all the things you've done for me
A "friend" like you,
Only deserves,
The very best in life...
I wish you,
Good luck and a very bright future!
Janadari Kapugama
Mahamaya Girls' College
Kandy
Stamp News 24
Gems of Ratnapura
"It is about a palm in length and as thick as a man's arm to look
at, it is the most resplendent object on earth. It is quite free from flaw
and as red as fire. Its value is so great that a price for it in money
would hardly be named at all."
This reference to a ruby that belonged to the King of Seilan (Ceylon)
is found in the travels of Marco Polo dating back to the 13th century.
Sri Lanka had been the land of pearls and gems from time immemorial.
In the 4th century A D, Fa Hien, the Chinese traveller spoke of the "great
ruby" above the Temple of Tooth in Anuradhapura which shines "like
a bright star" by night. Pearls, sapphires, rubies and other precious
stones were among the earliest exports from Sri Lanka.
Four well-known types of gems found in Sri Lanka were selected for a
set of stamps issued on 16th June 1976 depicting gems of Sri Lanka. The
60 cent stamp featured a blue sapphire, a flawless transparent stone of
a deep blue colour which is highly prized. The most desired tone of colour
is an intense cornflower blue with a fine velvety lustre. The blue sapphire
is famous the world over.
The Cat's Eye is seen in the Re 1.15 stamp. When cut in a special way,
it displays a silvery streak of light across its surface which moves with
every movement of the stone. This streak has a striking resemblance to
the pupil of a cat's eye, hence the name of the gem. The effect is best
seen under a single source of light. The cat's eye is a stone of remarkable
beauty and value.
The Star Sapphire is the gem featured in the Rs. 2 stamp. When cut in
a particular style, it displays a six rayed star on top of the surface.
Star Sapphires that display 12 rays are also known to exist. A pleasing
colour coupled with a prominent star in a stone is a rare combination.
The Rs. 5 stamp, which featured a Ruby was the last in the set of four.
The colour most desired is pure carmine red, often compared to the blood
of a pigeon. Hence, the use of the term 'pigeon blood red'. Ones with the
perfect colour and good size are rare and are considered extremely valuable.
Apart from those featured in the stamps, several other varieties of
gems are found in Sri Lanka. Among them are aquamarines, alexandrites,
amethysts, topazes, zircons, tourmalines, garnets and moonstones.
Gems are found predominantly around Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda,
Rakwana and Elahera. Almost all of our gemstones are obtained from old
alluvial deposits of rivers that have drained areas of gem bearing crystalline
rocks. The methods of mining, through simple and primitive, are quick and
efficient.
This is how the well known writer H .A. J. Hulugalle describes gem mining:
"Small groups work around shallow pits in and beside rice fields,
in close proximity to rivers and in other valleys and depressions which
suggest water courses of the earliest times. The 'illam' or gem gravel
may be close to the surface or as deep as hundred feet. The miners collect
the gem-bearing gravel and transport it to a source of running water. Here
they wash it in sturdy, conical, closely woven baskets, moving the containers
with practised rhythmic rotation until the mud is washed away and the coarse
white quartz gravel glistens in the sunlight. Keeping the load wet, the
washer methodically combs off layers of gravel, seeking the colour of precious
gem mineral". The rough stones recovered from the soil are fashioned
into beautiful stones, which fetch high prices in the market. Gems have
been a valuable foreign exchange earner for the country for many years.
 Animals
without backbones
One of the major invertebrate groups is the Mollusca. These are all
soft-bodied animals and include slugs, snails, scallops and squids. At
first it is difficult to see how such different looking animals are related.
There are five major sub-divisions or classes of living molluscs. Most
of them form a hard shell. These five classes include the familiar snails,
clams, octopuses, chitons and tusk-shells.
Gastropods
The most common molluscs are the snails or gastropods. There are around
20,000 living species. Most gastropods have a one-piece shell which may
be cap-shaped as in limpets or coiled as in whelks.
The name gastropod means stomach-footed. Most gastropods have a big
flat-bottomed foot, a head with tentacles and eyes. Their stomach and intestines
are contained in a part of the body called the visceral mass.
There are many different kinds of gastropods. Many are marine, living
either between the tide marks or in the sea. These include the whelks,
winkles, cowries, coneshells and sea slugs, to name a few. These all breathe
by means of gills. Other gastropods include the land snails, slugs and
fresh water snails which have lungs.
Bivalves
The clams or bivalves are the next class with less than 10,000 living
species. Bivalves have a two-piece shell which is held together by one
or two muscles. All bivalves live either in the sea or in fresh water and
breathe by means of gills. Bivalves do not have a head.
Bivalves may live burrowed in sand or attached to the surface of rocks.
Some may even bore into rocks, coral or wood.
Cephalopods
The cephalopods are the third most common class of molluscs and include
the largest and most intelligent invertebrates. The name cephalopod means
head-footed. In this class are the octopuses, cuttlefish, squids and nautilus.
Of these only nautilus has a shell.
All cephalopods live in the sea. Most species are active predators,
capturing prey with long tentacles.
Chitons
The chitons have a shell of eight plates held together by a leathery
girdle. They have a large foot and a head without eyes or tentacles.
Scaphopods
Scaphopods or tusk-shells are tube-shaped marine molluscs. Their name
means plough-footed. The scaphopods live partly buried in mud with the
narrow end above the surface. They are predators and catch their prey with
threadlike "captaculae."
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