Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two. – Buddha

Avurudu celebrations

Dear Children,

The festive season has begun. Since you have got school holidays you have plenty of free time to enjoy yourselves. In just three days time another Sinhala and Tamil New Year will arrive filling our minds with happiness and merriment. Hope all of you look forward to this great traditional event which strengthens our cultural and communal bonds.

The auspicious time for New Year arrives when the sun moves into the Mesha Rashi (Aries) from Meena Rashi (Pisces). The sun gives life to all. If not for the rays of the sun, no life can exist on this earth. The traditional New Year celebrations originated as a harvest thanksgiving when the farmer community celebrated their harvest during an astrologically auspicious solar phase.

Your mother or guardian will light the hearth when the auspicious time arrives. A special milk rice will be prepared. As we do every year, on this New Year too all of us will partake meals at an astrologically determined auspicious time. In addition to milk rice, the traditional sweetmeats such as Kavum, Kokis, Athirasa, Aasmi will adorn the New Year Table.

Unlike the past, today many people tend to buy sweetmeats from food outlets without taking the trouble to make them at home. However the pleasure of the New Year is felt more when these sweetmeats are prepared at home. This is when you realise the importance of extended families where all of you-your self, your parents and grandparents live together. However it is important to prepare at least a few varieties of sweetmeats at home. Then only you can feel the true sense of the New Year.

The striking feature of New Year is that all of us engage in cooking, having the first meal of the New Year etc at the same time. The New Year season is an ideal period to shed petty past rivalries and live harmoniously with everyone irrespective of their religion and ethnicity.

Wish you a very Happy Sinhala and Tamil New Year!

Bye for now,
Sanju
[email protected]

E W Perera: The ‘Lion of Kotte’

Now that the holidays are here and you have more time to spend away from your school text books, you might get a chance to explore a little bit of the capital of Kotte. If you happen to pass through Etul Kotte, among the buildings selling clothes, ceramics, tiles and groceries, you are bound to see a surprising site – a museum. As you pass Bangala Handiya you will come across a big board saying ‘E.W. Perera Memorial, Kotte Archaeological Museum.’

Perhaps, before you decide to step into the museum, which is certainly worth exploring, you would like to know a bit more about E W Perera and the significant role the capital of Kotte played in our history.

Kotte was the capital of the Sinhalese Kings from the early 15th to the late 16th century. In 1597 it fell into the hands of the Portuguese, after the death of the young king Don Juan Dharmapala who wrote a will handing his kingdom to Philip I of Portugal. From then on, through the rule of the Dutch and the British, Kotte was never seen as fit to be the country’s capital.

But in recent times after Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte was declared as the administrative capital of Sri Lanka Kotte has regained the importance and some of the majesty it once held.

The museum in Kotte, established in 1992, was named after one of the greatest sons of Kotte, E W Perera, who was also known as the ‘Lion of Kotte.’

The building where the museum is housed was the home of E W Perera and was called the Ihala Walauwa.

Edward Walter Perera was born on December 12, 1875 at Unawatuna, Galle and was named after his father, Edward Francis Perera. His mother was Johana Matilda. He was sent to Royal College, Colombo and was the first editor of the school magazine. After leaving school he left for England to pursue higher studies, and was called to the bar in May 1900. He became a lawyer in 1909.

During World War I, in 1915 there was a riot in Colombo. The British Governor of Ceylon Sir Robert Chalmers declared Martial Law and ordered the Police and the Army to shoot anyone who they thought was a rioter without having a trial to justify the person’s innocence.

The British government in England had to be informed of what was happening and a petition was written at a secret meeting held at the home of E W Perera. Prominent leaders of the time, Sir James Peiris and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan were also present at this meeting.

It was hard to decide how the petition could be delivered to the British Members of Parliament and the press in England. Travelling by sea was dangerous due to the presence of German submarines, which attacked ships and destroyed them.

As C W Annesley Sumith Fernando records, “EW was the hero who came forward to carry this petition in person to England in spite of the pains and perils involved. A special shoe with a false bottom was made to hide the petition to avoid confiscation on body search.”

Even though his life was at stake E W Perera considered the nation before self and, abandoning his career as a lawyer, boarded the ship, carrying that precious cargo - the petition.

Once in England, he was joined first by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan and later by Sir D B Jayatilaka and they presented the petition to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, telling them of the situation in Ceylon.

The mission was a success. The British government ordered the release of the leaders who were in detention. Several high officials were transferred. A new Governor, Sir John Anderson was sent to replace Sir Robert Chalmers with instructions to inquire and report to His Majesty’s Government.

E W Perera’s effort was greatly appreciated and he was thereafter referred to as the Lion of Kotte.

After holding many important positions in the struggle for Sri Lanka’s independence, E W Perera passed away on February 16, 1953 and will be remembered in the history of our country as a ‘true patriot of a rare kind.’

- Aditha
[email protected]

Personal cleanliness

Our health to a very great extent depends on personal cleanliness. This truth should make us take personal cleanliness seriously.

The best way to maintain regular personal cleanliness would be to make a habit of it. Regular cleaning of the body through regular bathing must be made a habit. And so must be the trimming of hair and nails and brushing teeth in the morning and before going to bed in the night. These steps not only prevent diseases but also make us pleasant towards others.

We should also be careful about taking clean food and drink. It would be best to avoid unclean eating places. Depending on home prepared food as much as possible is a very good safety measure.

When emphasising on cleanliness,washing vegetables and other food items before cooking is very necessary. Washing is most important in case of fruit etc. Another matter that should draw our attention is that unclean water causes and spreads many diseases.

Health is the greatest wealth one can have and it is our responsibility to safeguard our health. Let us make personal cleanliness a life long habit. This habit will bring us the greatest wealth a human being can look forward to have.

Shamila Amith
Grade 7B
Sailan International School
Seeduwa

My brother

My brother’s name is Thareen. My brother is five-years-old. He likes to eat ice cream. He has many picture books. He has a lot of friends.

Induwari Imasha
Grade 5
The Language Centre
Medawachchiya

My dream

My dream is to
be a Manager,
And not to be
a Damager,
To provide clothes with no damage,
So clothes can be managed
To live in Sri Lanka peacefully,
So I can keep the country beautifully
It is a service
that can be done
easily,
And to set an
example to
others smartly

Abdul Rahman
Grade 10 A
Sailan International School
Seeduwa