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Aunt Mali’s Children
Rajarata students excel in English studies
Nimal Wijesinghe
Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent
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A number of children from Anuradhapura who sat for the Starters’
Preliminary English International Test sponsored by Cambridge
University of London have succeeded in getting highest marks.
Five of them have scored 100 marks. Here, the 11 students
studied at the ‘On line’ International School’s English section
with their certificates. |
Five students descending from average middle class families in
Anuradhapura have succeeded in earning 100 marks from the Starters
English Language Examination sponsored by the Cambridge University of
London.
They are Sanduni Umayangana, Achisna Chamodhi, Tharanga Nayani
Rajasri, Dhimantha Yomal and Neranjana Ediriweera.
In addition to them Nethmini Upadya, Gangulee Garushka Franando,
Yasundara Rupanjalee Adhikari, J.M. Buddhika Sanjeewanee, Arjun Teran
Dassanayake and Dinuka Bandara Chandrasekera have scored high marks at
the international test.
Shanika Franando the Director of the Online International School
affiliated to the Cambridge University, where these children studied
English, told Daily News that the students have won the challenge with
hard work and dedication amidst beliefs that the English Education in
areas like Anuradhapura is at a very poor level.
She revealed further that to have the students accustomed to correct
elocution some British teachers would assist the institute in near
future. She hopes that some Governmental, Non-Governmental or Foreign
Agency would patronize the programme of elevating the level of English
Education in Rajarata.
Young Scribes:
My School
My school is Fathima Muslim Ladies College, Colombo. There are about
100 teachers and 4000 students, in my school.
I joined the college to grade one, my class teacher was Mrs. Tanuja
Abdul Wajith. She was very kind. She made the school a pleasant place
for me. There is a library as well as a laboratory in school.
It has a playground, I played cricket and netball for the college
team. Mrs. Yoosuf was the principal, Mrs. Ayesha Rauf was the vice
principal. They used to give talks on various topics which were like
guidelines for our future success.
The children in my school are obedient and disciplined. They all do
well at Government examinations. Most of the old girls are doing well
bringing credit to our College.
Fathima Raheema Fazal
Year 10
Fathima Muslim Ladies College, Colombo 12
************
Faluda
Red Sherbet,
Bleeding into the milk
Slowly turning it pink.
Vanilla ice cream,
Melting into the pink liquid.
Jelly crystals
Jutting out of the cup,
Little boulders in the milk.
A white straw,
Vanishing into a cave;
In which a tongue hides!
Nillasi Liyanage
Gr. 8-D, Musaeus College
Colombo 7.
Japan opens to the world
Japan is one of the most powerful nations in the modern world. The
progress of Japan was a swift one.
Infact its progress is a rare spectacle in the history of the world.
This is the beginning of a series of short articles which brings yon the
facts behind Japans’ rapid development as a world power.
By the 1850s, Europeans were demanding that Japan open itself to
trade and its markets to western products. The United States also wanted
Japan to allow whaling ships and merchant ships to restock in Japanese
ports.
In 1853, President Millard Fillmore sent four ships commanded by
Commodore Matthew C. Perry to Japan.
The President sent a letter saying that the United States wished to
have friendly relations with Japan, “But no friendship can long exist
unless Japan ceases to act toward Americans as if they were her
enemies,” the letter warned.
Perry said he would return for the Japanese government’s answer in
one year.
In 1854, Perry returned to Japan with eight warships. Seeing the
superior guns on these warships, Japan’s leaders realized they had no
choice. Two ports were made available to American ships.
To be continued
Folk tales of Sri Lanka:
Wish-fulfilling magic spells
Retold by R. S. Karunaratne
Once upon a time a hermit lived in a cave in the forest. He used to
go to a far away hamlet for alms and to collect other essential items
given free to him by the villagers.
The villagers believed that the hermit could perform miracles. Some
of them said that he could travel through the air and produce many items
from nowhere. However, no villager had seen such miracles.
One day Simon, a notorious robber, thought that he could get some
help from the hermit to do his job in a more professional way. He feared
the village headman who never hesitated to punish robbers mercilessly.
It took a long time for Simon to reach the cave in which the hermit
lived. However, Simon could not speak to the hermit as he was
meditating. After some time, the hermit came out of the cave.
After worshipping the hermit, Simon explained the purpose of his
visit. “I came to get a magic spell from you,” Simon said.
“Why do you want it?” the hermit asked. “I want to give up robbing
villagers of their valuables. If you can kindly give me a magic spell to
create anything I wished, I will be grateful to you.”
The hermit closed his eyes and remained silent for a few minutes.
Then he opened his eyes and looked at Simon.
“I am very sorry, Simon. I do not know any such magic spell. Please
go away from here.”
On hearing these words Simon got very angry with the hermit.
“You have to give me that magic spell. Otherwise I’ll reduce you to a
pulp,” Simon said threatening the hermit.
When the hermit remained silent, Simon began to torture him. Unable
to bear the bodily pain, the hermit agreed to give him only three magic
spells. Simon learnt them quickly and decided to test their efficacy.
Simon wished that he should have a big load of gold coins so that he
could be a rich person. When he opened his eyes, he saw a heap of gold
coins glistening in front of him. Then he started putting the gold coins
into a big box given to him by the hermit.
Even without thanking the hermit for giving him three magic spells,
Simon left the cave carrying the heavy box of gold coins.
After trudging through the forest for some time, Simon felt very
thirsty and hungry.
Then Simon wished to have some tasty food and delicious drinks. When
they were materialised, Simon ate and drank to his hearts’ content. As
he felt rather sleepy, Simon wished to have a nap under a tree.
When he awoke from his deep slumber, he saw a ferocious tiger sitting
on his box of gold coins and getting ready to jump upon him. Simon made
his third wish.
“I don’t want all these gold coins. Please save me from this
ferocious tiger.”
As he wished both the box of gold coins and the ferocious tiger
vanished from the scene. Simon returned home as a sadder but a wiser
man. |
