9 years and below
My Best Friend
I have many friends but my best friend is Amrin. She is smart, beautiful and kind. She holds a special place in my heart. I share my little secrets with her. It is said that “Friends are forever”. She is so loving and caring. She likes to play with me. We spend our spare time together.
Amrin has long hair and a nice smile. Her handwriting is so beautiful, and she taught me how to write nice letters. We love reading books together after school and she always cheers me up when I’m sad. Amrin is also very generous and always shares things with me. She is a very understanding friend and I love to be with her.
Amrin is not just my best friend she is like a sister to me. I’m so lucky to have Amrin as my best friend. I love my best friend very much and always cherish our friendship.
Aara Akram (Grade 2)
Harvard Int. School, Matale
10 – 12 years
Kandy Esala Perera
The Esala Perahera also called ‘The Festival of the Tooth’ is a festival held between July and August in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The Esala Perahera is held once a year to pay tribute to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha placed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. It contains lots of beautiful traditional items such as fire balls, whip crackers and Kandyan dances. The Esala Perahera is thought to date back to the 3rd century BC with the arrival of Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha.
In the Esala Perahera, the whip crackers and fire balls go first and clear the path for the Buddhist flag bearers. Then comes the Peramune Rala riding on the first elephant, followed by the Kandyan dancers and drummers. Then is the Tusker carrying the casket with the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Then the Diyawadana Nilame traditionally walks behind the Tooth Relic of the Buddha that belongs to the Mahanayake monks of Asgiri and Malwathu. The duty of the Diyawadana Nilame is to organize the Esala Perahera. The Sri Dalada Maligawa is also known as the Temple of the Tooth.
After the completion of the Esala Perahera, the Diyawadana Nilame gives a letter to the President with the Nilames of the Sathara Maha Devalas, to let the President know the successful completion of the Esala Perahera. It is a huge festival that is held in Kandy.
Ramiru Thissera (11 years)
D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo
13 – 15 years
Olympic Games 2024
The Olympics is considered to be a major sporting event in which thousands of athletes participate representing countries worldwide. These Games take place every four years and originated in Olympia, Greece, leading to the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
The Olympic Games of 2024 was hosted by France, for the third time from July 26 to August 11. The country’s largest stadium, the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris was utilized for this purpose. A special feature of this year’s Olympics was that the opening ceremony was held outside a stadium. The official theme song of the Paris Olympics was “Parade” and a sense of responsibility, inclusiveness and equality was conveyed by its motto, “Games Wide Open”.
The mascot was the Olympic Phryge, the traditional Phrygian red cloth cap of the French, symbolizing freedom. It is estimated that around 10,500 athletes from 206 countries showcased their talents in 45 sports and 329 events. Among the four new sports added to the 2024 Olympics, are break-dancing and surfing.
The Olympics ended on August 11 with the USA winning the most number of Gold medals. The fact that six Sri Lankan athletes also participated this year, builds up a sense of pride towards our small island.
However, what stands above all other achievements is the display of admirable qualities such as sportsmanship and fair play.
Nadithi Kulasekera (14 years)
Ladies’ College, Colombo
