CHILDREN

Cricket fever

Dear Children,

How is the week being treating you? Are you enjoying your schoolwork?

It’s hard to believe that two months in this year has already passed. We are already in to the month of March.

How time flies when you are having fun.

While the World Cup Cricket tournament is well underway, the School Big Match season is also upon us.

I know you guys must be eagerly waiting for the commencement of your School Big Match. Best of luck to your school.

Our Hindu friends celebrated Maha Sivaratri festival yesterday.

Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivarathri (Great Night of Shiva or Night of Shiva) is an important Hindu festival.

The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all-nightlong vigil. Children, do you know that International Women’s Day falls on March 8.

Originally called International Working Women’s Day, it is considered a major global celebration of women.

In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women’s economic, political and social achievements.

Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia and the former Soviet bloc.

In many regions, the day lost its political flavour and became simply an occasion for men to express their gratitude to women in a similar manner like Mother’s Day.

Bye for now. Have fun.

Aunt Anji

Most interesting place I like to visit

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country. Thre are many beautiful places in Sri Lanka. Among those the place I like to visit is Nuwara Eliya. I visit Nuwara Eliya very often with my family.

Nuwara Eliya is situated in central highlands of Sri Lanka. When we travel to Nuwara Eliya we pass many large tea estates which looks like Green world. There are many beautiful waterfalls. Waterfalls are very beautiful sights which make my mind very happy and relaxed. In Nuwara Eliya there are many beautiful places to visit. Among those places Haggala Flower Garden is very beautiful. There are many beautiful flowers which cannot be seen in other places in Sri Lanka. Especially there are many rare varieties of roses which can be seen only in Nuwara Eliya. We also can see beautiful vegetable gardens and farmhouses.

Nuwara Eliya is such a beautiful place that cannot be explained in words. Natural beauty of Nuwara Eliya makes my mind very peaceful. I think if anyone likes to enjoy the natural beauty of our country, they must visit Nuwara Eliya.

Ranga Nethmi Rathuvithana 13 years, Royal Institute, Maharagama branch

My family

Thee are five members in our family. My father’s name is Mohammed Ismath. My mother’s name is Farzana. I have two brothers they are Mohammed Sajid and Mohammed Afi. My parents are very kind to us. My parents have three children; one daughter and two sons. My father is 43 years. My mother is 32 years. My brother Sajid is four years and my brother Afi is two years. My parents’ favourite food is prawns. My brother’s favourite food is ice cream. My mother is fat and fair. My father is dark and smart. My brothers are very sweet. My mother has studied Tamil. My father has studied Sinhala. I love my family.

F Sajida Ismath, Grade 4A, Learnium International School, Colombo

Recalling the past

By Uncle Sachi and Aunt Ruwi - Part 59

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.

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...

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

Disen took a closer look at Sulo. The female goblin was sly and had the habit of betraying others for its own purposes. It sought riches for personal gain and did not think twice about its actions. He believed in the same mantra. That made them almost equal. He liked its approach.

“Step closer. Tell us what news you have...” he said.

Ignoring Punky’s annoyed hiss Sulo almost scrambled to the front line. Its face was glowing with pride in outwitting its rival yet again. It turned a blind eye on Pradesh’s glare and Rangoon’s imploring eyes. Even Tidura’s questioning look went unnoticed.

“Wait wench! Stay where you are! That is close enough. Now speak!”

Sulo stopped on its track at the sharp comment. It saw Punky smirking and stuck its nose in the air. It had yet to win Disen over but it felt sure that it will be in better light once it was done with him.

Laugh all you like, wench. But before the sun rises tomorrow I’ll be in-line to replace you in his affections, it thought savagely as it dismissed Punky’s toothy grin. It had much bigger things to think about now than bickering over womanly matters.

“It’s those human cubs. All except one are asleep.... hissss..... All the non magical creatures dropped off to sleep after the storm. Jay was worried. He took the oath and went in search of the answer...”

“We know all that! That was yesterday’s news,” Rangoon cut into her speech with a snort.

Disen glared at him before he was able to make further comments. Sulo gave him a look of hatred but continued as Disen signalled her to go on.

“I was following the eldest cub. He left his fellow cubs and was going towards sunshine hill.

Then suddenly I looked over my shoulder as we passed the old oak tree and then....there was another being... hisss... He looked so much like a human... but he is not human...”

“What? How can he be human and non human at the same time?” Tidura couldn’t help asking.

“Exactly! What do you mean?” another goblin named Bertrum cried.

Sulo shuddered as it recalled the first time it had caught sight of the tall and bony figure clad in the greyish robe. I had not seen the face of the intruder but event the sight of the wrinkled hands had been enough to raise goosebumps.

To be continued

Tortoise	Kites
S Nitharsan Grade 5, Kingston International Wellawatte branch	Sandewna Methsani Dias Wijesinghe PG - IIC Sujatha Pre-school Nugegoda

Fishing

Cagla Aslinur Unalan 5B, Learnium International School Colombo

Diamond Head	Myself
Damien John Jayatilaka 5E2, St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4	Shana Grade 6 Kingston International Wellawatte branch