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Thursday, 16 July 2009 |
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Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country’s capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is the most populous insular nation in the Caribbean.Its people, culture and customs draw from diverse sources, including the aboriginal Taíno and Ciboney peoples; the period of Spanish colonialism; the introduction of African slaves; and its proximity to the United States. The name ‘Cuba’ comes from the Taino language and though the exact meaning is unclear, it may be translated either as ‘where fertile land is abundant’ or as ‘great place’ (coabana). Additionally, there is the claim that native inhabitants called the island ‘Cubagua’ in the Columbus era starting in 1542. Cuba is located in the Northern Caribbean at the confluence of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Cuba is South of the Eastern United States and The Bahamas, West of the Turks and Caicos Islands and Haiti, East of Mexico and North of the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.Courtesy: - Wikipedia SAARC Ministerial Conference on ChildrenDear Children, I am sure all you children know that the fourth SAARC Ministerial Conference on Children and the fourth SAARC Senior Officials’ Conference on Children was held on July 9 and 10 in Colombo under the patronage of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka. The event is significant for the region and especially for Sri Lanka.
The Government is carrying out various large scale welfare projects and programs for IDP children in the welfare villages. You too can lend a helping hand to the IDP children in whatever small way you can. This is the duty of Sri Lankans one and all. The conference focused on several important issues such as poverty, natural disasters, regional conflicts and several other issues which have a direct impact on the region’s children. I am sure you children would agree that it is timely to hold this event in Colombo because at the moment the Sri Lankan Government is carrying out various large scale welfare projects and programs for IDP children in the welfare villages. With the total elimination of terrorism from Sri Lanka new challenges have emerged when it comes to children and women. Poverty remains a crucial issue for all of us and one which has to be more efficiently addressed, as children are the most vulnerable in a family. The child bears the brunt of its impact in the form of higher mortality, under-nutrition and child labour, including abuse and exploitation. Our Governments since independence have closely adhered to pro child social policies to provide free education for both boys and girls without discrimination, provide free healthcare. Bye for now. - Aunt Anji Rivals
“What was this prophecy? Well, tell us, would you?” Rangoon asked impatiently.: The story so far... Pramodaka, Nalaka, Champika and Chinthaka go on a trip to the woods with their parents for their school holidays. In the middle of the night the children are awakened by a strange noise. On following their dog, Scooby, Chinthaka is snared by the age-old spell of the ‘luring stones’. Pramodaka departs with Ruwi, a pixie, to recall a book of spell to cast off the spell while Nalaka, Champika and the dog remain behind with Sachi, a gnome who updates them on the life of mythical creatures. Shamilka, a friend of the mythical creatures joins in and they begin hunting for Pramodaka and Ruwi as there is no sign of their return. Just as they were coming to terms with the fact that they were lost, six rabbits scamper along the way. The rabbits take pity upon the children and agree to guide them part of the way. Meanwhile Sulo, the goblin who is always trying to make trouble for the mythical creatures, grabs a basket of goodies from a gnome named Russell and makes off. Scooby scents her and attacks. Ruwi senses that Russell is in danger but she also gets the strange feeling that there is a mysterious link between Pramodaka. Suddenly a storm breaks out and Pramodaka, Nalaka and Champika are blown away with the wind. As they make their way back to their friends Sulo notices them and comes up with a nasty plan. She rushes off gang up the rest of her pack. There she reveals a secret that could hold the key to all the goblin’s troubles...
All the rest of the mythical creatures have been outraged and puzzled at this for they strongly believed that Pradesh deserved more than mere banishment for his role in being one of the most trusted allies of Zelda. He had spied for her and had related their weak points so that it had been easy for the witch to capture and kill Banzula, the then elf chief when the present one had been a mere baby in his cradle. Luckily, the elf queen had been able to smuggle him away in the hands of the pixies and baby Jay (as he was fondly called because he had such a long name) had survived to take the throne after the witch was vanquished. Pradesh had been quite shaky once he had been summoned to the council which decided the fate of the goblins. He had been sure that torture and death were his doom and there had been uproar when Jay had finally decided to deprive him of his titles and banish him with the rest of the clan. He himself had stared at the elf in wonder, hardly daring to believe his luck. He was forced back into the present at the unpleasant sound of Rangoon’s high-pitched voice. “What was this prophecy? Well, tell us, would you?” he asked impatiently. Sulo licked her lips. If she wanted things to go her way, she would not have rushed into the details at all but it was a different matter when Rangoon was around. Her eyes fell on a face peering maliciously above Rangoon’s shoulder. She wrinkled her face in disgust. “Of course Punky has to be here. Never missed an opportunity to snicker at my discomfort,” she thought irritable. Punky had lighter shaded skin and a slightly dainty figure. Sulo cast many an envious eye from time to time - when her back was turned of course. She used an extremely whinny voice to get things done according to her way. Disen, one of the goblins who was high up in rank, almost equal with Pradesh, was her constant companion. “Only three creatures who are still alive know this prophecy. Jay, Russell’s grandmother and I...” she hissed. “It was made by the great prophet Arjizack to Jay’s father, Banzula. Russell’s grandmother had been in the adjoining room for she had been tending to baby Jay. Arjizack said that there will come a time when the storm will rise at an early time and that four humans will wander into their lair...” To be continuedTo Sailan with love The love in my heart Every time I see you “Do not hide your face when things go wrong All my awards
Fathima Shabna Grade 10 Sailan International School, Negombo Art Gallery
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Do you know dear children that the Government has launched projects
worth Rs.1,058 million to provide higher education facilities for
children of displaced families as part of the Uthuru Vasanthaya
(Northern Spring) program. 
Pradesh felt a jolt of excitement as he
grasped Sulo’s words. At last he will be able to avenge the humiliation
he had suffered after Zelda’s defeat. How those pixies, gnomes, brownies
and elves had scorned him throughout the years. He had only survived as
a result of his arrogant personality and the pardon of the elf chief.
