Book Competition Winners – January 14, 2024

 

9 years and below

 

I like school because it teaches some interesting subjects. We get to play sports, have some interesting clubs and there are very big grounds. I also like school because it is called Sri Lanka’s number one school. 

School is very good at cricket and very good at football. Also, it is very good at rugby. Also, there are very nice teachers. There is a nice canteen and some nice after-school sports. My school has a sports complex and swimming pool complex. 

 

There are very good friends at school and nice classrooms and also very nice assemblies like ‘The Dog Show’ and the ‘Sky Festival’ by the Air Force. There is a very big assembly hall to do things like the Doctor Association programmes.

 

I dislike school because they give us lots of homework and sometimes they put two clubs at the same time. So then I can't join both clubs. Then I miss the clubs I like. Sometimes I don't like that there are some extra activities that reduce my learning time. 

 

I like my school as it is neat and tidy.

 

 

 

10 – 12 years

 

An interesting experience happened when I got my second puppy, after my first one ran away. I named him Roger. He was peach in colour and had a black, wet nose. He was very active and loved to chase his ball. He was a little naughty too because he ate my shoes, toys, pencil case and even my pencil. 

 

He is scared of my father because one time he dug up one of my father’s chillie plants and got scolded. But he loves when my father makes beef soup for him on Friday nights. He gobbles it all up in one go. And when he is done eating the first plate, he goes and licks my father’s leg so then my father gives him more soup. 

 

After that he comes to me and sits near my leg and I take him up on the sofa and give him belly rubs. Then he falls asleep quickly. Then I put him in his bed and keep his favourite toy beside him and I go to bed too. 

 

In the morning he licks my face to get me to wake up. Then we both get ready for school. He watches me get ready. Then I get in my car. He whines and barks at me saying not to go but I kiss him and go to school. 

 

When I come back, we play in the garden and he chases his ball. He loves playing fetch. When it’s the weekend we go to Hunas waterfalls, have a bath and have an ice-cream on the way home. His favourite flavour is cookie cream. 

 

These are my interesting experiences with my dog.  

 

 

 

13 – 15 years

 

Among the many festivals celebrated by Hindus, Deepavali is a prominent one celebrated annually in the month of October or November on a date determined using a special calendar.

 

The customs and traditions of this fun-filled festival differ worldwide, but lighting oil-lamps is a common tradition.

 

Celebrants prepare for the festival by cleaning, renovating and decorating their homes and workplaces with rangolis (colourful art circle patterns).

 

During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes. They illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas (oil lamps) at night and light fireworks. They partake in family feasts and share sweets and gifts.

 

The history about this festival dates back centuries and differs from place to place. In

 

North India the festival celebrates the royal homecoming of Rama along with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman to the city of Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the 10-headed king of the demons. In South India the festival marks Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura. Some celebrate Diwali as a commemoration of the marriage of Lakshmi and Vishnu, while others observe it as the birthday of Lakshmi. Though the origins differ, the aim of this festival is to mark the victory of light over darkness, symbolized by illuminating the dark night with bright fire in earthen lamps. 

 

Sri Lankans celebrate this festival with their families, as a public holiday is given on this day. Deepavali is a constant reminder that good will always win over darkness, even though the odds are against.