Features | Online edition of Daily News

It was the day (June 5) that United Nations Conference on the Human Environment began. The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was from June 5-16,1972. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The first World Environment Day was on 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition in the week of June 5. World Environment Day is in summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

World Environment Day (WED) is similar to Earth Day and the WED theme this year is ‘Forests - Nature At Your Service’. Forests cover one third of the earth’s landmass, performing vital functions and services around the world which make our planet alive with possibilities. In fact, 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods.

Once Upon a Time.......

How are you doing? Before we start reading this week’s book, I have to share something important with you. Can you remember we read a book called ‘Stories from the History of Ceylon for Children’, by Marie Muaseus Higgins a few weeks back (24.04.2011)? In that, I have mistakenly mentioned that Marie Muaseus Higgins was British. In fact, she was German, being born in Germany to German parents. I would like to say sorry to all the readers for making that mistake.

This week we’re going to read a collection of ladybird fairy tales dearly loved by so many children and adults all over the world. Do you like fairy tales? Have you read or watched movies of fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Puss in Boots, Rapunzel, The Gingerbread Man, The Beauty and the Beast, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, The Ugly Duckling, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Princess and the Frog and The Three Little Pigs? As a child, I used to love all these stories so much and I still cannot help being fascinated by them.

You can find all these tales in Ladybird publications. Some of the tales are from Grimms’ Fairy tales and some are from Hans Christian Andersons’. Have you all heard of these popular fairy tale writers?

Do you think fairy tales are meant only for children? I don’t think so. Like many other books, fairy tales can be enjoyable and meaningful in many ways to both children and adults. If you have any fairy tales with you, read them now, and keep them safely with you to re-read them when you grow up. When you read them now, you can also keep a journal with you and write down what you think of each story you read. You don’t have to show it to anyone, but keep it also safely with you. And when you re-read the stories after many years, don’t forget to read your journal too. If you do this, one day you would know why I suggested that you do this!

These days many children watch fairy tales on DVDs and sometimes on television. When we were schooling there was a very good series of fairy tales on television, and there were also very good fairy tale cartoons.

I loved watching them as much as reading the books. However, I always think reading the book first is good. What do you think? Why do you think I like reading the books first? I’m not going to tell you because I know if you think about it, you would know!! So, why don’t you write to me and let me know what you think.

Vesak

Vesak is a religious festival. It is celebrated by Buddhists in Sri Lanka and all over the world in May. We engage in religious activities to mark this most important day. People make Vesak lanterns and pandals. Some people observe Sil. There are Dansals and Bakthi Geetha in the night.

Some children wear masks and frighten us. Vesak is a colourful day to us. On this day we do a lot of site seeing.

My young brother

I have a young brother. His name is Muazzam Jarir. He is two years. I love him a lot. He loves to play with me. He loves birds, geckos and water. He helps grandma in the garden.

My self

My name is Ayami
I am a girl
I am seven years old
My school is Sujatha
I live in Meegoda
I like to drink cool drinks
I like to eat oranges
I love my family

My parents

My parents are good and kind. They are very beautiful. They help me in my schoolwork. They buy me new cloths, toys and books. My mother cooks me tasty food and my father take me for classes. They wish to see my progress. I always try to do my schoolwork best and make them happy. I love my parents and they love me too. God bless my parents.

Twilight

Ever so far in life,
Finding a story,
To which life belongs.
So dark so cold;
Very hard to believe.
One word and there,
A destiny opened,
Definitely at the wrong time.
And a life sealed, from light to twilight.
Beginning of the happenings,
Which ever lasted, like a nightmare.
Really, a cold nightmare.
Buy life has changed now,
Changed as never expected it to be.
For the start of a race to win or die.
It was hard to decide.
But it was written and couldn’t be changed.
So then, it was called, twilight

Vesak celebrations	Temple

Minuri Ruvindi Suwaris 3B Sujatha Vidyalaya Nugegoda	Lomitha Wickramarachchi 2A Royal Institute International School Nugegoda

Vesak Poya Day	Lanterns and flags	Going to temple

Dewmi Sanjana Grade 3 Doongaha Henpitagedara Kleton Vidyalaya	Chithara Methsahan Dias 3B Sujatha Vidyalaya Nugegoda	Mindule Balasooriya Grade 3 Sujatha Vidyalaya Nugegoda

The 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi was celebrated at Narithasan Kindergarten school premises recently. Here, some of the students of Saman Class with Vesak lanterns.

The annual Prefects Day ceremony of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo was held at the school’s Wimala de Silva hall under the patronage of principal Pradeepa Samarasinghe recently. Here the newly appointed prefects taking their official pledge at the commencement of the ceremony. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

The annual English Day of Kelani Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya, organized by its Principal D U Waragoda was held at the school hall recently. Here some students performing at the event. Picture by Edward Weerasinghe, Kelaniya Group correspondent

Dilani Sadhana Jayakody a Grade One student of Sumedha Vidyalaya Gampaha standing beside a mini Vesak pandal she created to mark the school’s Sri Sambuddhatva celebrations which won accolades from parents, teachers and students. Picture by Nimal Jayasinghe, Gampaha Roving corr