Children

To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. - Buddha

Leave no room for dengue!

Dear Children,

Even earlier I have written to you about the importance of keeping your surroundings clean. You have to be especially careful these days because the dengue menace has raised its ugly head once again. You must have heard and read about the recent dengue deaths.

Dengue is spread by the bite of a mosquito. We are being constantly educated by media guided by the Ministry of Health as to how we should protect ourselves from dengue. The most important thing is to destroy the breeding places of dengue mosquito. Also it is a must to use a mosquito net.

You have to be very careful of the places where water collects specially after rainy days. In fact during this rainy weather we have to be on alert. With the assistance of your parents/guardians and school teachers you should clean the environment. Discarded containers/tins, coconut shells, old tyres are good breeding spots for the deadly dengue mosquito. Hence you should destroy them.

Make sure that discarded tins are disposed properly. Also make sure that you refill the flower vases which contain water with fresh water frequently.

If you come across a neighbor or relative who is ignorant of the cleanliness of his/her surroundings, do not hesitate to educate them.

If they do not show an interest better report them because one person’s carelessness can cause severe harm to other people’s lives…

Sanju

Educationist Patriot

If you travel through the streets of Colombo you are bound to come across T B Jayah Mawatha. Have you ever wondered why this street has been named thus? Have you ever wanted to find out more about this eminent personality of the 20th century?

Tuan Buranudeen Jayah was born on January 1, 1890 in Galagedara. His parents were Cassim Jayah and Nona Jayah. His father worked as a police sergeant and whenever he was transferred the family moved with him which meant the children were admitted to several schools during their school career. Tuan Buranudeen Jayah was sent to Grade 1 of St. Paul’s College, Modera when he was ten years old. He proved to be such a brilliant student that at the end of the school year he was given treble promotions. In 1904 he won a scholarship to St. Thomas’ College, which too was in Modera at the time.

Having passed the Cambridge Junior and the Cambridge Senior exams with flying colours, he entered the London University’s Matriculation class at the age of 18. By the time he reached 20 he had served as assistant teacher with a monthly salary of Rs.40 at Dharmaraja College, Kandy and taught Classics at Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa. Then he joined Ananda College, Colombo where he taught Classics and History.

According to F Faisal Faleel, in an article in the Daily News paying tribute to this legend of the last century, Dr. T B Jayah was appointed Principal of Zahira College, Colombo, in 1921 when it was in a poor state with a few students and teachers and lacked buildings to house classrooms. “Undaunted, he took up the challenge and worked with zeal and zest for the betterment of Muslim education.”

He held the reins of principal-ship for over a quarter century and during this period he was instrumental in opening several branches of the school. In 1942, Zahira College, Aluthgama was opened on May 7, and Zahira College, Gampola on May 15; in 1944 and 1945 three other branches were opened in Matale and Puttalam and Slave Island respectively.

After relinquishing his duties as principal, he took up a diplomatic post as High Commissioner of Ceylon in Pakistan.

Best remembered for his admirable stance on patriotism, Dr. T B Jayah always emphasised the importance of the country before the interests of the community.

As Al Haj A H M Azwer, the Senior Vice President of the All Ceylon Muslim League recalls, Dr. T B Jayah said in a speech he made regarding the demands of minorities at the State Council way back in 1937, “We might stand up for our community, but it cannot be said that we have stood against the interests of the country as a whole. I have always said, and I repeat it today, that I consider the interests of the country as a whole, to be paramount.”

A man of wisdom and vision, Dr. T B Jayah passed away on May 31, 1960, in the Holy City of Medinah, leaving behind him a legacy that would inspire generations to come.

Orang-utan

Orang-utans are very kind and friendly. They are playful creatures who are very lovable. Why do humans always try to ruin their lives?

I want to convey a message to the world, that is to stop all these evil actions done by human beings.

This is not a meaningless request, I am conveying this message to the whole world.

Gavik Kuruppu
Grade-6-H
Royal College
Colombo-7

Shasheendra
Rajapaksa visits Wila
Oya pre-school

The annual leaving
ceremony of the ‘Blue
Berry’ Pre School

Cultural show of Knighton
Normal School

Uva Province Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa visited the Wila Oya pre-school in Siyambalanduwa on an inspection tour. The Chief Minister took the opportunity to look into the grievances and problems of the pre-school teachers as well during the tour. Picture by Bandarawela Group Corr.

The annual leaving ceremony of the ‘Blue Berry’ Pre School of Kalmunai was held at the Wesly Higher School Auditorium last year. Here, a group of students performing a Hindu traditional song. Picture by I L M Rizan, Addalaichenai Central Corr

Knighton Normal School in Hamilton, New Zealand held its cultural show in which children from different countries carried their national flags dressed in their national costumes. Little Shezadh Nabinath from Kandy, Sri Lanka did not forget his motherland. Dressed in Sri Lanka’s national costume he carried not only the national flag with the lion emblem but also the name of the country in another board. Here Shezadh Nabinath is seen seated extreme left with his motherland’s board and the flag on the ground. Picture and story by S M Jiffrey Abdeen,Kandy South Group Correspondent