Features | Online edition of Daily News

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. A sleeping spell is unleashed and all the unmythical creatures including the children fall asleep. Strangely Pramodaka is the only one awake.

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...

The coast was clear but she took a peek around to make sure that all of them had vanished from view.

“Yes... They have gone leaving the main gate unguarded! Anyone can break in now,” Zira sniffed. “Why my father always said...”

“We had better check on Sachi. That is why we are here for in the first place - remember?”, Pramu added hastily. He knew that it will be difficult to stop Zira from going on talking once he got on his favourite hobby horse. The young gnome was always fascinated with his father’s work. He was one of the main members among the Elders and had a hard time keeping their whereabouts from his son.

Luckily Iza had been able to manage to keep Zira from meddling from some of the key affairs which were for Elder’s eyes only. He never brought his documents home unlike some others. He kept his pamphlets under lock and key at the Headquarters and always handed his manuscripts over to either Pramu or Wasu for delivery.

His duties and home affairs remained pretty much separate - unless in emergencies. Nobody complained about the fact because the last time they had tried to make him brew a colour changing spell at home at the brink of Autumn, the velvety moles had changed into a bright orange - the colour of oak leaves during the season and Annie, who had stopped by to collect a basket of blackberries from Iza’s wife had sported purple coloured hair for the rest of the week till the elves had discovered the core of the problem.

Zira kept on explaining that the incident took place when he was ‘young’ and over a year ago but the inhabitants of the woods had learnt their lesson. They were more than happy to let Iza work at the Headquarters and dump the rest on Gerry or Perry, the brownie who was in charge of keeping contact with the mythical creatures from other parts of the country and world.

“We too had better meet him. We need to get Sachi out of there,” Zira said. He looked up at the stairs with growing interest. Say, I have never been there before. Wonder what they have there. Dad never talks about this place much, he thought.

“Let’s wander around a bit. Maybe we can find him or get help from someone...”, he said.

“It will do not good for me to stay and besides... Looks like they have all forgotten about us with whatever had happened up there,” Diane said.

To be continued

Deyata Kirula exhibition

Some of the enthusiastic school children at the Deyata Kirula exhibition. File photo

We have celebrated another Independence Day. Did you watch the celebrations held in Buttala?

Another very important event taking place these days is the Deyata Kirula exhibition. This exhibition which began on Independence Day ends today.

The Deyata Kirula exhibition focuses on the various aspects of our country’s development.

Some of you would have been fortunate to visit the Deyata Kirula exhibition. Its full of interesting things and has something for everyone. The exhibition is a window to the country’s development and future progress.

The large crowd, especially children visiting the Deyata Kirula is proof of its popularity and value. Children, I hope you did not miss this opportunity of experiencing the wonders of our Motherland at the Deyata Kirula exhibition.

Aunt Anji

Holy Prophet Muhammad birthday February 16

The Islamic Month of Rabbiul Awwal 12th the Birthday of Holy Prophet Muhammad falls on February 16. It is significant day for Muslims.

The Birthday of Holy Prophet Muhammad was a blessing to the whole world and his example to the whole humanity. He was also known as ‘Al Ameen’ during the early Mecca period due to his honesty.

Therefore as Muslims it is our duty to be trustworthy and trustful in our Motherland.

We Muslims in Sri Lanka should follow the teaching of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and follow the Holy Quran strictly. Let our fervent prayer on this Holy day peace, harmony, tolerance, understanding and brotherhood.

A walk in the Garden of Verses

Do you like poetry? I felt that we should read some poetry this week. Have you all heard of a famous 19th Century English author called Robert Louis Stevenson? He is the author of the popular novels Treasure Island, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Kidnapped. This week we’re going to read a book of poems by him: A Child’s Garden of Verses.

Stevenson was born in 1850 in Edinburgh. He had been quite unhealthy as a child and was looked after by his nurse named Alison Cunningham to whom he dedicates this collection of poems.

This book of verses is divided into four parts as A Child’s Garden of Verses, The Child Alone, Garden Days and Envoys. The Penguin Popular Classics version is illustrated by Eve Garnett.

You can enjoy the pictures and the short and sweet poems written on a variety of themes in this collection.

Let us read the opening stanza of the poem ‘The Unseen Playmate’ from the part The Child Alone.

In comes the playmate that never was seen. When children are happy and lonely and good,

It is said that Stevenson celebrates his own childhood in A Child’s Garden of Verses. See whether you feel familiar with some of his poems.

Have you been through similar experiences? Do you think like the children in his poems? It will be great if you could start writing small poems yourself. Some of you may be already writing and if you wish you can share your poems with me.

Till I’ll be back with another book next time, here’s a ‘Happy Thought’ by Stevenson:

Bye friends – Gayathri

Wildlife in Sri Lanka

Our Motherland Sri Lanka is lucky because Sri Lanka is a tropical country. Therefore, it has adequate rain and sunshine. All tropical countries have large areas with different animals, birds and reptiles.

The elephant, leopard, bear, deer and monkeys are some of the common animals that live in jungles. Most of them can be seen in herds in our national parks at Yala and Wilpattu game parks.

We find a large number of elephants in the forests of Sri Lanka. Elephants in the Dehiwela zoo and in the Yala and Wilpattu parks are a great tourist attraction. Elephants in Sri Lanka have been used for various purposes since ancient times. The elephant population is dwindling in Sri Lanka and soon they might get extinct. The leopard is a dangerous animal. It prowls about in village where there are cattle or poultry. Brown and black monkeys go about freely and it is a common sight.

The golden oriole, mynah, kingfisher and woodpecker are some of the birds which are seen in our gardens. The sanctuary at Kumana is well-known for its abundance of bird life. It is also known as the bird’s paradise. Visitors go there fascinated by the beautiful plumage they see there. Our wildlife is regarded as a national treasure, which attracts many tourists and it brings a large income to our country. The Wildlife Conservation Department has to protect these animals and maintain the sanctuaries in Sri Lanka.

Pen pals

Pen pals (Girls) preferred from : Pakistan, Australia, Japan, China, Indonesia, USA

My House	Waterfall	My pet cat Chicko

H G Oneli Kithara Haloluwa 1B, Sailan International School Negombo	Sasindi Lasithya Iddagodage Sunflower International pre-school Katubedda, Moratuwa	Damien John Jayatilaka Year 5E2, St. Peter’s College Colombo 4

Joker	Design	Ben 10

M Aravinkanth Grade 4, Kingston College International Wellawatte	Fathima Ruzaika Aliya 5B, Sailan International School Negombo	Thuvasan Grade 3, Kingston College International Wellawatte

Shinyo En Lanka Free Nursery School held its annual concert at school hall recently. Here children performing at the event.

Spell gone wrong

- Part 56

In ‘Kid’s Den’...