Features | Online edition of Daily News

Did you go Vesak sightseeing? Vesak is being held on a grand scale as it is the 2600th Sambuddhathva Jayanthi.

The whole country is illuminated at night with lanterns, pandals etc. The air is filled with Bhakthi Gee and Vesak devotional songs. Hope you were apart of important events. Do you know that Biodiversity plays an important role in our lives. All you environment conscious children would know that International Day for Biodiversity (IDB) falls on May 22.

The day was proclaimed to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted May 22 as IDB.

This year has been designated as the International Year of Forests and forest biodiversity is the theme for this year's International Day of Biodiversity (IDB).

Designation of IDB 2011 on the theme of forests provides Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and everyone interested in forests the opportunity to raise an awareness of the issue and increase practical action. Children, have a great week ahead.

Bye for now.

Aunt Anji

A magic rainbow-flower for my little friends

Hi everybody,

Have you seen the rainbow? Can you tell me how many colours you have seen in the rainbow and what those colours are? I'm sure most of you can, but have you ever seen a flower with rainbow colours, or a flower with seven pretty petals with seven different colours?

Zhenya, the little girl from this week's story has a magic flower with seven colourful petals, and she knows how to sing a song and make a wish come true with each and every one of those petals:

"Fly, petal, oh-
East to West you go.
Then North to South
And turn about.
Touch the ground, do,
Make my wish come true."

Do you want to know what she wishes for? The story of the Rainbow-Flower will tell you all about it. This story was originally written in Russian by Valentine Katayev and it's translated into many languages including English and Sinhala.

Rainbow-Flower is illustrated with attractive and colourful pictures to suit the story. I like it for both the beautiful pictures and the nice story. Do you? And do you think there is any message given to you from Zhenya's story?

Russian literature is loved by literature lovers from all over the world. Russian authors have written great stories for both the children and adults.

I have always liked them for their eye-catching, colourful and unique pictures and interesting stories. Can you think of some of the other Russian stories you have read? Don't you think there's magic in all of them?

If you still haven't come-across Russian literature, go pick a little flower and make a wish as soon as possible:

Fly petal, oh -
To Russia you go
To that land of enchanting
stories
And turn about.
Touch the ground, do,
Make my wish come true

Please bring me wonderful books to read. I will share them with other children too! Is there a rainbow outside?

Gayathri

A good citizen

A good citizen has to imbibe many qualities and responsibilities. But at the same time, he also enjoys some rights and privileges as a citizen of a free state. While he has every right to participate in the judicial, legal, political, religious and social affairs of the nation, he has also some responsibilities. He must not injure the sentiments of others and must protect the weak from the strong. Being loyal to the nation and the society, under all the circumstances, is his firs and foremost duty.

A good citizen must be ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of his motherland.

He is also required to be a good citizen and a nationalist. He should have firm and deep faith in his motherland.

He has to obey the law of the land. But he has also to keep in his heart, the welfare of the country, the welfare of his state, the benefit of society and the long-term interests of the nation.

A good citizen must respect the cultural heritage of his country. He should respect the heroes, the prophets, the sages and saints of his country. He must always keep in mind the future of his country. He must raise the standard of living of his country by working honestly.

During the time of aggression or foreign attacks, he must be ready to shed his blood for the sake of his motherland. Therefore, defence of the country is the supreme duty of a good citizen. He must be vigilant against the enemies of the country.

He must not do something that may help the anti-nationalists or the enemies of the country. He must cling to high ideals. He must be aware of what is happening in his country.

Unity of the nation should be his top most priority. He should work for the unity of the country. A goodwill for all, the protection of the weak, help of the victims and a sympathetic attitude towards his fellow citizens are the qualities that are needed in a good citizen.

A good citizen should have a spirit of co-operation, friendliness, humanity, dedication and devotion towards his family and society. He must respect other faiths. He must not do something that brings disgrace to his society or to his country. 'Greatest good of the greatest number of people' should be his principle. All these good qualities, if possessed, make us good citizens.

Dishya Perera 8 B Sailan International School


New Year celebrations Vihara Situmini 1B, Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda	Rainy day S Pragaliya Grade 3, Kingston College International Wellawatte	My garden Hansika Rasanjana 2EB, Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda


Grapes S Vithurshana Grade 4 Kingston College International, Wellawatte	Carrot M Dilan Grade 3 Kingston College International Wellawatte	Toys M Aravinkanth Grade 4, Kingston College International, Wellawatte


Waterfall Nethmini Ishadi Wijewardana 3F, Musaeus College, Colombo 7	Rose flower Zeenath Ihma 4B Sailan International School	Tweety F Shaliha Jabeer 4B, Sailan International School


Coconut tree Fazni 3A, Sailan International School	At the temple Hasithma Sumanaratne 1B, Sujatha Vidyalaya Nugegoda

The Primary Section of the Rotary International School held a Vesak programme to mark the 2600th Sambuddathva Jayanthi. Picture by Sudath Nishantha

Students of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya singing Bakthi Gee in front of the school Buddha shrine on May 16 to mark the 2600th Vesak Sambuddhathva Jayanthi. School principal Pushpa Kalubowila organized the event. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

Vesak week on grand scale