CHILDREN

Netherlands

Capital (and largest city): Amsterdam

Official language: Dutch

Ethnic groups: 80.9 percent Dutch , 19.1 percent various others

Demonym: Dutch

Area: Total 41,526 km2

Population: 2010 estimate 16,615,950

Currency: Euro

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in North-West Europe. It is a Parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the North and West, Belgium to the South and Germany to the East. The capital is Amsterdam and the seat of government is The Hague.

The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as Holland, although North and South Holland are actually only two of its 12 provinces. The word Dutch is used to refer to the people, the language and anything pertaining to the Netherlands.

The Netherlands was one of the first parliamentary democracies. Among other affiliations the country is a founding member of the European Union (EU), NATO, OECD and WTO. With Belgium and Luxembourg it forms the Benelux economic union. The country is host to five international courts: the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The first four are situated in The Hague as is the EU’s criminal intelligence agency Europol and judicial co-operation agency Eurojust. This has led to the city being dubbed ‘the world’s legal capital’. The Netherlands has a capitalist market-based economy, ranking 15th of 157 countries according to the Index of Economic Freedom.

The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 20 percent of its area and 21 percent of its population located below sea level, with 50 percent of its land lying less than one metre above sea level. Much of the Netherlands is formed by the estuary of three important European rivers, which together with their distributaries form the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta. Most of the country is very flat, with the exception of foothills in the far SouthEast and several low-hill ranges in the central parts.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

FIFA World Cup 2010 in full swing

Did you all watch the spectacular opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa? The event has brought world attention to this country known as the rainbow nation.

This is the first World Cup to be hosted in Africa and the stage is a wonderful setting for this beautiful game.

Johannesburg’s Soccer City has been constructed in the style of a traditional calabash cooking pot, but the stadium has a deeper meaning to most South Africans.

The outside is clad in various shades of brown and beige to resemble the earthen pot, with a ring of lights which simulate the flames at night.

It was in its previous incarnation that Nelson Mandela addressed his first rally following his release from prison in 1990, and it was also here in 1996, after years of sporting isolation, that the country won the Africa Cup of Nations.

This stadium which hosted the first match of FIFA 2010 will also host the final. So the world’s attention is focused on South Africa.

I am sure all you children who are keen readers of the Daily News are big music fans. So you must be finding our weekly supplement on ‘Popular Female Singers’ very interesting. It contains many facts you need to know about today’s female singers. Tomorrow is another important day in our calendar as the Victory Parade to honour our war heroes will be held at Galle Face. Don’t forget to watch this spectacular ceremony on TV if you are unable to make it to Galle Face.

Bye for now. Have fun.

- Aunt Anji

Speech craft training for juniors at Wesley College

This Junior Speech Crafters training program to sharpen the skills in public speaking was successfully concluded with the awards ceremony held recently at the Wesley College Main Hall.

The winners were awarded Gold medals while the first and second runners-up were awarded Silver and Bronze medals respectively.

The ability to speak in public is one of the important elements today. It helps improve the leadership qualities and to motivate people.

Without motivation, even the most skilled person or the team is unlikely to achieve great things.

This kind of speechcraft training program was introduced for the age group between six to eight years at the school, first time in Sri Lanka.

The Junior Speech Crafters training program at Wesley College was sponsored by Rotary Club of Colombo North on the request of Dr Shanthi McLelland, the Principal of the Wesley College, Colombo.

The Chief Guest at the awards ceremony was past District Governor of the Rotary District 3220 Rtn Tariq Thulba and the Guest of Honour was President of the Rotary Club of Colombo North Rtn Dulip Jayamaha and the Vice Principal of the Wesley College K.C.S. Jayawardana, Director Youth Services and New Generation Rtn Marshad Barry and Sectional Head of Wesley College Primary, Havelock Town O.D.C. Fernando also present at the occasion.

Beyond reach- Part 25

By Uncle Sachi and Aunt Ruwi

In ‘Kid’s Den’...

Four children, 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 spell of the ‘luring stones’. Pramodaka departs with Ruwi, a pixie, to recall a book of spell to cast off the spell while the others remain behind with Sachi, a gnome. A storm breaks and the kids are scattered.

Meanwhile Sulo, the goblin who is always trying to make trouble for the mythical creatures, comes up with a nasty plan. She rushes off gang up the rest of her pack and reveals an age old secret.

However the group discovers that it is not only Sulo’s secret that is uncovered by the storm. Something dark and deadly had been hidden in the depths of the earth waiting to release itself and return for revenge...

(‘Return of the Kids’ is the sequel to ‘Kid’s Den’)

“I know you came looking for your friend. He is safe and well,” the Graceful One said.

The group looked relieved.

“Where is he?” Zira wanted to know.

“He is with Mallie waiting for the Elders.

They have gone for a meeting with Jay,” she replied.

Ruwi’s ears picked up at that phrase. An Elders’ meeting sounded very serious. So they had not misjudged the signs after all. Danger must be close at hand. First they had trouble with performing their magic, then a storm had hit them and now all these secret discussions! She decided to keep the knowledge to herself without alarming Zira, Shamilka and Pramu further.

Zira grimaced at the news. Being in Mallie’s company was not something he looked forward to. The old woman had a habit of ticking him off in public for his naughtiness and since she was in such a prestigious position his parents did not like him to get into trouble with her.

He can never forget the canning he got when he had once gone too far as to put some bees wax on her chair! Still, one of his fondest wishes were to play a very nasty trick on Mallie so that it will teach her what it is like to be nasty to others because you had power behind you.

“Do you think...” Pramu trailed off as he glanced at the staircase. Ruwi knew what was in his mind. It was only on rare occasions that visitors were allowed to enter the castle but occasions that they were allowed to wander into the building were even rarer. Would they dare enter the castle?

“I think it is better if you remained here. Even I don’t have the powers to take you beyond this,” the Graceful One smiled.

Zira looked crestfallen while Shamilka and Pramu felt a deep sense of disappointment. They had a small hint of hope that they will finally get to see a part of what only a few boasted that they have seen. The magical castle contained many legacies of myth, magic and wonderment.

Ruwi looked upset. How will she get to Sachi?

The Graceful One read her thoughts and smiled at her kindly.

“I will go to Sachi and give your message to him. If he can be freed I will bring him to you,” she said.

“We- we need his help. It is a long story but we have to find someone. There are some young humans... they are in danger...”, Ruwi stammered.

“I know. There are four more children besides the one next to you. They are lost now but don’t fret. I sense that they are not in danger - yet... But they are not free of danger. I will go now...”

Ruwi watched helplessly as the Graceful One ascended the stairs.

To be continued

My new class

I have passed to Grade Five.
My new teacher is Madam D. M.
M. Atapattu.
I meet new friends in the class.
There are 36 children in the class.
I study well in the new class.

Venura Santhush Hettiarachchi Grade 5 A Ramasinghe Vidyalaya Dalugama Kelaniya

Pen-pals

Name: P.H. Piyumika Lakshani
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Hobbies: Collecting stamps, reading story books
Pen-pals preferred from: Australia, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, USA
Age group: 16-19
Address: No: 37/A, Sankalpagama, Mahandana, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka