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Thursday, 1 October 2009 |
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Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the North and West, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the East and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Its size is just under 110,000 km² with an estimated population of 14,000,000. A representative democracy, its capital is Guatemala City. Guatemala’s abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems contribute to Mesoamerica’s designation as a biodiversity hotspot. The origin of the name ‘Guatemala’ is indigenous but precise origins are unclear. Some hold that the name means land of the trees in the Maya-Toltec language. The first evidence of human settlers in Guatemala goes back to at least 12,000 BC. There is evidence that may put this date as early as 18,000 BC, such as obsidian arrowheads found in various parts of the country. There is archaeological proof that early Guatemalan settlers were hunters and gatherers, but pollen samples from Peten and the Pacific coast indicate that maize cultivation was developed by 3500 BC. Guatemala is mountainous, except for the South coastal area and the vast Northern lowlands of Peten department. Two mountain chains enter Guatemala from West to East, dividing the country into three major regions: the highlands, where the mountains are located; the Pacific coast, South of the mountains; and the Peten region, North of the mountains. All major cities are located in the highlands and Pacific coast regions; by comparison, Peten is sparsely populated. These three regions vary in climate, elevation and landscape, providing dramatic contrasts between hot and humid tropical lowlands and colder and drier highland peaks. Courtesy: WikipediaChildren’s DayDear Children,
Today is a very important day in the calendar for you dear children as we celebrate Children’s Day on October 1. This is your day. This day has been dedicated to children who are regarded as the future of any country. The Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Ministry will have a special ceremony to mark this occasion at Ananda College under the patronage of First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, under the theme ‘Let us build a unified Nation for our Children’. Around 500 children countrywide including children from the North and East will participate in this function. Various cultural items and competitions have been arranged. Sri Lanka’s first ‘National Children’s Council (NCC) comprising 100 school children from all parts of the country will be established by the Probation and Child Care Services Department to mark Children’s Day. The NCC will also ensure the protection of the rights of children, development of their skills and also their moral development. How about the school functions planned in your schools to celebrate this day. Tell us how you all celebrate this day. Today also marks yet another important sector in society as Elders’ Day too is celebrated on October 1. While the children enjoy this day, we should also spare a thought for the old and the infirm. It is our duty to look after our elders and treat them with compassion, love and kindness. Special care should be given to them to make them feel that they are not unwanted and that they too have a life to live. World Teacher’s Day on October 5 This is an eventful week specially for you children having the World Teacher’s Day on October 5. It is a day to show your teachers how much you love them. Children should offer a sheaf of betel and worship their teachers and get their blessings. The best way to show your love to your teachers is by being good children and obeying them. Any teacher would love to see his or her students excel in studies or any other field. Respecting elders specially your teachers is a good habit each and every child should follow. So children enjoy the day. Bye for now. Aunt AnjiColombo YMCA speech contestThe Colombo YMCA Speech Contest, based on Sir Edwin Arnold’s The Light of the World was conducted on September 19 in the YMCA Forum Hall. Rev. Elmo P. Fernando, Manori Almeida and Savithri Dias were the judges at the semi-finals of the contest. Six finalists were selected for each category. D.R.A. Kannangara, Sunethra Goonethileka and Jean Withanage were the judges at the finals. The results are as follow. Senior girls Winner: Anne Kaushalya Jayasinghe of St. Lawrence’s School - Wellawatta. 1st Runner-up: A.S. Lakmini Fernando of Ave Maria Convent, Negombo. 2nd Runner-up: Nicola Tehani de Zoysa of St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo 7. Senior boys Winner: Shevon Rodrigo of Maris Stella College, Negombo. 1st Runner-up: C. Ridmal Jayasooriya of Ibbagamuwa Central College, Ibbagamuwa. 2nd Runner-up: Ragulan Sathkunalingam of Kingston College International, Colombo 15. Junior girls Winner: H. Swasha Ratnayake of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda. 1st Runner-up : J. Nethmini Ratnayake of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda. 2nd Runner-up: Juanita D. Perera of St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo 7. Junior Boys Winner: Rayantha Sinnathamby of Alethea International School, Dehiwela. 1st Runner-up : D. Asela Tilakaratna of St. Thomas Preparatory School, Kollupitiya. 2nd Runner-up : W. Hashan Madusha Perera of Oasis International School, Colombo 12. Obey or be vanquished! - Part 56The story so far...
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.
“What is it?,” chorused all those around him. “Look, we are near the bend that goes to Hilda’s Hidey Hollow. The ‘Mythic Scope’ is not so far away. Today is Tuesday and look at the time...” “Why should we go there? Nobody likes to go there much ever since HE took over, don’t you think?” Ruwi questioned. Zira who had been sucking his thumb and looking around for something to keep him entertained looked up with interest. “Me Pa does not like to go there. Says that snobbish HE tries to look down on him and his work. Tried to get him in trouble too when he tried to shift one of the magic potions that Ravi had brewed to the top and get Sheila’s one down...” “I know. But we need their help this time. We have to let the others know that they should be on the look out for the kids and that there is something strange going on...” Sachi cut Zira off. “Suit yourself but I’m not going there.” Basu turned up his little nose at the thought. “I’ll come with you all,” Pramu sighed. It was his territory that the gnome and pixie will be venturing into and anyway he was due to get the ‘Mythic Scope’ to deliver the lot to the hollow in a few minutes. There was no harm in being early after all. “That is quite a brainwave Sachi... If only HE is not so domineering! Well, let’s go. This is an emergency...” a rather unwilling Ruwi sighed. “We haven’t got another choice, aunt Ruwi,” Shamilka added, kindly. They bid the rest of the pack adieu and set off with Zira skipping behind them. The young gnome was trying to imitate Pramu’s hop and only Sachi cast him a horrified look but soon even he was use to Zira’s frisky manner. “Ah, here we are. Home sweet home,” Sachi commented sarcastically as the group turned up at the entrance of a tall building which seemed to be made out of paper mache. “Let’s go in and get it over with,” Ruwi whispered. So in they went and what a sight met their eyes! There were gnomes and pixies running around tearing rolls of paper out of the walls. Surprisingly when one fragment was torn off another came to take the others place. There were also several gnomes and pixies huddled together in front of what seemed to be an oracle. The oracle was giving instructions to that the creatures had to carry out. Ruwi darted a glance at a notice overhead with a set of rigid instructions in bold letters. “Obey or be vanquished!” she muttered with a sniff. “Just like HE to let others know the strength of his powers. Pooh...., the monkey praising his own tail more like!” (To be continued)
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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’.
There is a sudden break of trouble in the pixie camp as one of the
pixies, Dina, develops weird symptoms. Emida, a middle-aged gnome goes
in search of peace and stumbles upon a discovery... 
