Teen lifeguards honoured

Ruwanthi ABEYAKOON

LAST year on June 21, Tharindra Nanayakkara and Nuwan Prabhath two lifeguards were on duty at the sluice gate of Nuwara Wewa, Anuradhapura. It was the Poson Festive season.

Around 3.30 p.m. Tharindra suddenly noticed a person calling for help. Without hesitation he dived into the deep waters determined to save the victim's life.

The Vice Captain of the Lifeguard Team Nuwan joined him immediately. The two boys swam to the victim who was about to be drowned as soon as they could. Both students brought the exhausted victim ashore risking their lives. Suran Chandika's life was saved because of the selfless act of these two boys.

The two brave students were awarded with the Civilian Bravery Student Award last Monday. After being honoured and felicitated for their bravery the two teenagers spoke to Daily News Teen of their experience.

"I feel very happy that I saved a life. It is difficult to explain how I did it but my intention was to save the boy's life," said Nuwan Prabhath.

Nuwan is a student of Richmond College, Galle. Nuwan has done his A/Ls in the commerce stream. While studying, he has been involved in Life Saving Association and has been awarded with a bronze medal.

"I was the captain of our school's lifeguard team. Every year we are assigned for duty during the festive seasons. In 2005 we were at Nuwara Wewa where we saved Suran's life," Nuwan explained.

This year also Nuwan had saved a student from Panadura who was carried away by waters of Basawakkulama Tank. Nuwan is hoping to join forces and serve the country.

Tharindra Nanayakkara said he feels delighted of his achievement.

"I did A/Ls in the arts stream. I was also involved in the Lifeguard Team in school and I feel happy that I put into practise what I learned," he said.

Both students thanked their Principal W.N.R.P. Danius, Vice Principal G.V.S.B. Shanthisiri, Teacher-in-Charge S.G. Jayatissa, and Lifeguard Instructor K.S.S. Somakalum for the support in gaining this prestigious award.

My Ping Pong Ball

I had a little ping pong ball

Which I brought from the shopping mall

I liked my little ping pong ball

And loved it most of all

I kept my precious ping-pong ball in a very special place

But on one sunny summer day, an obstacle took place

My precious little ping pong ball was not in its place

I felt a lot of tears, dripping down my face

I looked around while stumbling down on my broken lace

And then I found a black bird's nest

I looked inside to see if it had laid some eggs

I saw inside three little eggs, lying beside, a most particular egg

And this particular little egg was not a normal egg at all

But indeed it was my precious little ping pong ball

Which I had been searching for so long

Raveena A. Weerabahu

Year 5C, Gateway College, Rajagiriya

The Rainbow ...

I See The Sun

Rising On The Sphere

It Pleases My Heart

I Wish U Could Be Near

When I See The Sunset

I Rest Down For A While

At The Ending Of Each Day,

I Think Of You And I Smile

And When Night Shadows Fall,

The Stars Light Our Way.

It Makes Me Think Of You,

Your Words, Whatever You Say

After Every Storm,

I See A Rainbow In The Sky

It Smoothens My Soul

Like A Gentle Lullaby.

It's Through Your Eyes,

I See The World, I See Everywhere.

And It's At Each Rainbow's End,

I Know I'll Find You There . .

- Haroon

Dream...

And as you dream,

Remember...

That only you can make

Your dreams come true.

Reach...

And as you reach,

Remember that...

Success takes time,

Devotion,

And sometimes a little

Disappointment.

Believe...

And as you believe,

You will find

Reaching gets easier,

Setbacks get

More manageable,

Life becomes

More meaningful.

There's a wonderful dream

Waiting just for you...

I know you can make it come true.

Have a Great Day Ahead!

- Dinushi Jayasuriya

Sujatha students win Lanka Star Awards

WINNERS: Two students of Sujatha vidyalaya Nugegoda were winners in the Lanka Star Award (student category) organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of packaging, famous for setting very high standards in the industry at the Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo.

Nazreen Shenali Makeen and Umesha Dilhani Premaratne, both students of Grade 9, English medium clinched the gold and bronze awards.

Nazreen and Umesha told Daily News Teen that there were many topics to choose and all topics were based on packaging.

"We chose package designing on food and beverages and we designed and drew cereal boxes. We made the cereal boxes and included the facts to describe our product and that is why our product would be a success," the girls said.