Children

Sunny Stories:

Changes are wonderful

Marshi did not like to be in a new school. The thought of being in a new class frightened her. Will the other children in her class like her? Will they make friends with her? “No” she thought to herself. “I don't want to go to a new school.”

But Marshi had no choice. Her father was transferred to an office in Kandy from the beginning of January. They would soon be moving to a new house near the Kandy town.

Marshi's parents had already found a new school for Marshi. Hasini who was in Preschool would be entering grade One of the same school Marshi would be attending.

The caterpillar changed into a butterfly

On Saturday Marshi walked through every room in the house gazing at the walls, the windows and even the ceiling, trying to store every single detail in her memory.

Though The furniture would be moving with them the house would soon have a new family living in it. Would they be as happy as Marshi had been in these rooms? Would the garden be as beautiful as it is this morning, with mother's carefully tended grove of Bouganvilla in full bloom? Marshi sighed. She knew she would miss the garden the most.

Marshi walked out of the back door. She saw mother wrapping the cups and sources inside the kitchen cupboards in old newspapers and Hasini, playing with an old tin box she had found inside one of the cupboards.

Marshi sat on the cement bench under the old mango tree. She watched a butterfly hovering over the white Gardenias. Her eyes filled with tears. She could not believe she would soon be leaving this old but dear house and the beautiful garden. She could not believe she would no longer see any of her school friends. She loved exchanging books with Anushi, she loved playing hopscotch with Sonali, Kavisha and Romashi. She realized she would even miss her friends in the school van.

Marshi looked up when she saw her father walking towards her. Hurriedly she wiped the tears on her face with her hands.

Father sat besides Marshi. He too looked at the butterfly on the white Gardenias. Then he turned and looked at Marshi.

“What is wrong Marshi?” he asked.

“Nothing,” said Marshi digging a hole in the sand with her toe.

“Tell me...” said father.

Marshi wiped another tear from her eye.

“Don't you like to move to Kandy?” Father wanted to know.

Marshi nodded.

“But your new school is as good as the school you are going to right now.” He explained. “You will soon have lots of new friends.”

He ruffled Marshi's hair. “Ok?” He asked. Marshi nodded slowly.

Father laughed and took Marshi's hand in his. “Come here. I want to show you something.”

Father walked with Marshi to the Bouganvilla grove. “Do you see this?” He asked pointing to a caterpillar.

“Yes,” said Marshi.

I want you to keep an eye on him. Watch what happens.”

The next morning Marshi ran to the Bouganvilla grove to look for the green caterpillar. But to her surprise she saw a gold cocoon hanging from the leaf where the caterpillar had been. She ran back to the house to tell father.

“Come and look at this father. The caterpillar has disappeared.”

Father walked with Marshi to look at the cocoon. “This is called a chrysalis,” he said. “Wait for sometime. You want believe what you will see next.”

Marshi could not go out into the garden for three days as the monsoon rains had started and it rained throughout the day. Finally, to Marshi's joy Thursday turned out to be sunny and warm. When she went in search of the chrysalis she saw in its middle there was now a big hole. She waited till father came home from work to tell him about it.

Father smiled when he heard what had happened to the cocoon. “Tomorrow morning when you go out into the garden watch out for a new butterfly” he told her.Father was right. Marshi saw a beautiful butterfly searching for nectar among the purple flowers near the front doorstep.

Father came and stood besides Marshi. “Now you know how a butterfly comes into being. The caterpillar formed a cocoon and after sometime turned into a butterfly.”

“Yes father” Marshi smiled.

“Do not be scared of changes, Marshi,” said father. “Your new school will be as good as your last school, and you will love our new house too. Always keep in mind, changes are wonderful.”

Marshi felt happy. Father was right. If not for changes there will be no butterflies.

-Aditha

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Travelling is fun!

My dear children,

We all like to travel around the world. But not all of us always get an opportunity to travel everywhere to our heart’s content. Some people are busy with office work, busy at home and I know you too are busy with your school work.

But all of you go on trips whenever you are on vacation. Am I right? Some of you may be travelling within the country and some of you may have even travelled to foreign lands.

Those who have not gone abroad yet, do not have to worry too much. I am sure you will get opportunities to go to other countries as you grow older.

You have enough places to see in Sri Lanka. Ours is a beautiful country rich in bio diversity. I am sure most of you might have gone to animal sanctuaries like Yala where you can see a lot of wild animals roaming freely.

Also you might have seen the beauty of World’s End and enjoyed the April Season in Nuwara Eliya. There are also several places of religious and historical interests in our ancient cities like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

Now you are free to travel to any part of our country. You can even go to Jaffna and enjoy the hot "Jaffna" sun. The Trincomalee beach is an ideal place for a stroll!

Travelling gives you a great deal of new experiences. However, be mindful and remember not to drop litter in any of these places. Always be with your parents or guardians. Never disturb wild animals while travelling in wildlife sanctuaries.

Why not make a tour to Jaffna with your parents or with school teachers and share your experiences with your Daily News friends?

Bye for now, Sanju.

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Floods in Sri Lanka

Any land usually below the water level is prone to floods. In Sri Lanka some areas are more prone to floods due to heavy rains.

Flooding can be classified into several types. They are riverine floods, dam breach floods caused by spilling of reservoirs and urban floods.

Among them riverine Floods and urban floods are most common. Before a flood, there is a warning period. Flood warnings are issued by the Irrigation Department or the Disaster Management Centre.

Before a food we should watch television and listen to the radio to get the latest news updates regarding the situation.

We should also keep telephone numbers of emergency services. It would be much easier if we are aware about the history in flooding in our area.

The methods would help us prevent from future flooding.

Villagers should always organize and work as a team to overcome such situations.

V.V. Dileka Samadhi , Grade 10-A, G/Batemulla National College

Kids of Yoshida visit Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya

Little kids of Yoshida Nursery school, Sapugaskanda, Kelaniya visited Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya recently. Here they posed for a Daily News photograph with Chief Incumbent of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Professor Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkitha Nayake Thera. The visit was organized by its Principal Sharmila Lankathilake and the staff. Picture by Edward Weerasinghe, Kelaniya Group Correspondent

Poson Bhakthi Gee programme by Visakhians

A Poson Bhakthi Gee programme was organized recently by the primary section of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. Here principal, Sandhamali Aviruppala, deputy principals and primary sectional head, Muditha Madanayake with the students. Picture by Vasitha Patabedhige