9 years and below
My favourite tree
The coconut tree is my favourite tree. There is a coconut tree in front of my house. It is a beautiful tree, spreading leaves and bearing fruits. We get coconuts and young coconuts from this tree. I like to drink the sweet water of the young coconut. It is one of my favourite drinks. Every part of the coconut tree is very useful. The trunk is used for making rafters. The coconut husk is used to produce rugs, mattresses, ropes and brooms. Coconut shell is used for making spoons. Coconut leaves are used for thatching house roofs and to make bags. From the coconut flower, coconut honey and toddy can be made. Using dry coconuts with the shell some people make little monkeys as ornaments. They are very attractive.
Tourists like these products very much. It gives a big income to our country. I love this tree very much. We must protect it.
Hasali Adikari
Girls’ High School, Kandy
10 – 12 years
Poson Festival
Poson Festival is special for Buddhists. They celebrate this day as a great festive occasion. It is a sacred day for Buddhists for many reasons. The most important reason for Sri Lankans is the arrival of Reverend Mahinda Thero with other Buddhists monks called Ittiya, Uttiya, Sambala, Baddasala, Sumana and a devotee caleed Bhanduka. This arrival was a turning point in the history of our country. It is the Mahinda Thero who brought Supreme Buddhism to our country. We received it as a gift from the King of India called Dharmasoka. The revival of Sri Lankan history began with the arrival of Mahinda Thero. When King Devanampiyatissa was hunting deer, he met Mahinda Thero. After this meeting, the Arahath Mahinda asked several questions to find out whether King Devanampiyatissa was intelligent. The King answered well and became a devout Buddhist after hearing the sermon.
Buddhists go on pilgrimages to Mihintale during Poson season. They climb the sacred mountain singing devotional songs. Buddhists spend this sacred day engaging in many activities.
Rachini Adikari (12 years)
Girls’ High School, Kandy
13 – 15 years
Why oceans are important
Oceans are the largest water bodies in the world – they are greater in area and depth than seas. There are five oceans in the world: Atlantic, Arctic, Antarctic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Pacific is the largest of them all. In the ocean there are thousands and thousands of sea creatures – much more than we shall ever know. For all these creatures, the ocean is their home. They are born there, they die there. As we destroy the ocean, we are indirectly committing mass murders of these creatures. The ocean is their one and only habitat, and the only environment they can survive in, and if it goes, they go with it. If these creatures disappear, food chains will be disrupted. Our food will be scarce, humans will soon be endangered.
Oceans make up 71% of the earth’s surface. Destroying them would mean almost three quarters of this planet is wasted. A lot of water will be gone. If we lose all this water, what are we going to live on? Each cell of our bodies needs just enough water so as not to shrink or burst. Blood needs water to make it fluid, so as to transport the various substances through the body.
Animals need water too, and so do plants. But this is not the end. We destroy the enchanting oceans to make ugly beauties. All our ‘development’ and ‘civilisation’ is killing the oceans. Oceans have so many wonders. Are we human beings really humane?
Ifadha Deen (14 years)
Leeds Int. School, Galle
