9 years and below
My favourite hobby
All over the world, not only children but even grown-ups have various hobbies. Collecting stamps, collecting coins were popular in the past but now children have hobbies such as travelling, hiking, playing musical instruments, reading books, gardening and writing poetry.
Among the various interests I have, my favourite hobby is reading books. From my childhood, I have been fond of receiving books for my birthdays. Even after school hours, I used to stay at the library to spend my time in a useful way. I feel that what Stephen King said is true; “Books are a unique, portable magic”.
By reading books we can receive a lot of knowledge and we can get information to write essays, stories and poems. We can reach faraway places, hunt for treasures and meet extraordinary characters through the imagination we inherit from reading.
Having thousands of benefits from reading, I am proud to say that I am a bookworm.
Rasandi Ranasinghe (9 years)
Musaeus College, Colombo
10 – 12 years
What I enjoy most at school
There are many activities that I engage in at my school. Among these, what I enjoy the most is my Aesthetic subject – Traditional Dancing, where history, faith and legacy are taught in its sacred movement styles.
At our school there are many dancing styles to learn such as Kandyan (Uda-rata), Low Country (Pahatha-rata) and Sabaragamuwa. There are also separate Vannam and Kasthiram for each category that teaches about the behaviour of animals. Additionally we can learn about, kalagedi, lee-keli and raban.
Although modern dancing styles are taught at my school, I take immense enjoyment in learning traditional dancing. We learn not only about how to dance but also about our nation’s resilience, its timeless beauty and the proud history of my motherland Sri Lanka.
Dancing provides us with many opportunities to showcase our talents. I dance for every special occasion at my school. Dancing helps me to have good physical, mental and social well-being. Dancing gives me both magical and panic-filled moments full of excitement. It inspires me a lot.
Seja Abeywickrama (10 years)
Southlands College, Galle
13 – 15 years
An exciting event
Among the many exciting events that have touched my heart, the train journey to Ella remains one of the most enchanting experiences of my life.
It was a morning wrapped in soft sunlight as we boarded the train in Kandy, unaware that we were about to witness a world unfolding like a painted scroll. As the train began its slow, steady rhythm, a cool breeze swept through the open windows, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and distant rain. Rolling hills clothed in emerald tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see, and waterfalls leapt gracefully from rocky cliffs, glistening like threads of silver. The mist floated gently over the landscape, and for a moment, it felt as though we were gliding through the clouds.
Each curve of the railway revealed a new wonder; tiny villages nestled between the hills, smiling faces waving with joy and bridges suspended high above valleys. Inside the train, laughter echoed, strangers became companions and time seemed to slow down, allowing us to breathe in every detail of the journey.
When we arrived in Ella, the mountains stood like silent guardians, cloaked in mist. The journey was not just a trip along the tracks but through beauty, warmth and wonder – a memory etched in my soul, like poetry written across the hills.
Vihanga Karunarathne (13 years)
Lakdasa De Mel College, Kurunegala
