Sunday april 11, 2021 TIMES

Happy Sinhala & Tamil New Year!

Story page 4

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Art by Pamoda Senevirathna (10 years) follow us on www.fundaytimes.lk 2 TIMES Please send Poetry Competition competition entries to: Funday Times This is your chance to get your poem published here. C/O the Sunday Times Entries should be in your handwriting and clearly certified by a teacher or parent as your own creation. P.O. Box 1136, Colombo. Age groups: Your poem should be posted to Funday Times with Or 6 – 10 years ‘Poetry Competition' written at the top of the entry. 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, The winner of each age category will be awarded a Colombo 2. 11 – 15 years British Council Young Learner's Library membership. Please note that competition Word limit: 100 Words entries (except Reeves Art) Please write the date at the top of your entry are accepted by email. Please note Please write the name of the 6 – 10 years 11 – 15 years that copied poems will be disqualified. competition and the date clearly Bad Luck Global Warming at the top of your entry and include I woke up this morning, Mother Earth is so sad, the following details: I saw a black cat, Since we’re all acting bad. Full Name (including Surname), I broke a mirror, We should give a helping hand, Date of Birth, Address, I knew it was a sign for bad luck. To make her happy and not much sad! Telephone No. and School. I had to go to school, She’s becoming more and more, Please underline the name But it wasn’t safe I knew, Hot with greenhouse gases more. most commonly used. A piano would fall over and squash me, It’s us who made the gases more, I knew a car could hit and I could break a leg, All competition entries should be By factory gas and vehicle smoke. I would fall off the stairs and break my head. certified by a parent or guardian If Mother Earth gets so much heat, as your own work. My mom promised to buy me a toy after Her glaciers, ice will melt. Competition entries without the school, The sea shall sink the islands left, full details requested above, But the bad luck was frightening me, Gradually all Earth shall melt. will be disqualified. I wanted a toy so I had to agree to go to school, All of us can help her to, Closing date I walked on the road, nothing bad happened, Win by planting trees many more, for weekly competitions: The good thing is I learnt not to believe in Let’s reduce the smoke and gases for, April 28, 2021 bad luck Our Mother Earth to live forever more. And I got a toy. Telephone: 2479337/2479333 Anne Fernando Chanithma Joseph Taxila C. C., Horana Email: [email protected] Holy Family Convent, Colombo 4

super Age: 10 – 12 years Age: 13 – 15 years books Word Count: 150 – 200 from Word Count: 200 – 250 Win Topic: Planning for the New Year festival this year Topic: New Year traditions

Age: 9 years and below Win: Great Expectations The Coral Island by Charles Dickens Win: by R. M. Ballantyne Word Count: 150 Orphaned at a young Fifteen-year-old Ralph, age, Pip lives with his mischievous young Peterkin Topic: My favourite New Year sweetmeats strict sister and kind and clever, brave Jack are brother-in-law in Kent. shipwrecked on a coral reef But two fateful meetings with only a telescope and a Judy Moody Girl Detective broken penknife between Win: by Megan McDonald – one with with a scary convict in a cemetery and another with the them. Judy Moody turns eccentric and wealthy Miss Havisham At first the island seems a paradise, Judy Drewdy when she and her cold daughter Estella – with its plentiful foods and wealth of finds herself in the middle changes everything for the young boy. natural wonders. But then a party of of a real-life whodunit Helped by a secret benefactor, cannibals arrives and after that a pirate when Mr. chips, a crime- Pip leaves behind his simple life and ship… dog-in-training, goes goes off to the city of London. missing. Was Mr. Chips Will Pip get to fulfill his expectations? stolen by evil dognappers? TIMES Detective Judy Drewdy is on the Book Competition case. 9 years and below 10 – 12 years 13 – 15 years A new hobby The best TV show I enjoyed It’s good to be bilingual Write at the top of your Essay Yusuf-ul-Haq Thinuli Kurupparachchi Ifadha Deen nBook Competition nEssay Topic Matale Int. School Methodist College, Colombo 3 Leeds Int. School, Galle

April 11, 2021 TIMES 3

April 6 News in Pictures

Jerusalem, Israel Visitors walk from the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust remembrance centre, before ceremonies marking Holocaust Remembrance Day on Thursday.

California, USA Ranunculus flowers at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California, have reopened for limited visitor numbers. Moscow, Russia A sculpture exhibition marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth opens at Vnukovo airport.

Durham, UK Waves crash over the walls next to Seaham lighthouse in Durham.

April 5

Sydney, Australia Dancers from the Australian Ballet during a dress rehearsal of New York Dialects: Watermark at Sydney Opera House.

Washington, DC, USA The Easter bunny waves from the White house. The traditional South lawn Easter Egg roll was not held this year because of COVID.

Narayanganj, Bangladesh [email protected] Crowds watch as a capsized boat is recovered from the Shitalakshya River.

Source : The Guardian April 11, 2021 4 TIMES The Avurudu Treat By Manoshi de Silva t was Avurudu Day. A few pieces Everyone went silent. of broken milk rice and other It was no secret how much sweetmeats were put into the the crow disliked the koel. Ibird-feeder plate in the garden. Whenever the crow saw A few birds and squirrels gathered the koel, he attacked and around and enjoyed the treat. chased him away. The koel The plate was full and there was looked at the crow with enough food for all. The food pleading eyes. But the crow smelled and tasted really good. showed no mercy. A crow soon joined the crowd. “You are not invited here!” He took a small piece of milk rice to he crowed loudly.” his beak and ate it slowly. He usually Go away! Now!” And with ate the food quickly and didn’t leave that he attacked the koel, much for the others. But because there who flew away very scared. “There’s enough food was enough food today, he enjoyed it The crow looked guilty. But he didn’t here for everyone!” said the squirrel, leisurely without hurrying as usual. want to accept defeat. “But wasn’t he “why did you chase him off?” “Avurudu food is the best!” said a wrong to deceive us all?” he asked the “Because he’s an enemy of mine!” squirrel, who had enjoyed the food a others. said the crow. “He cheated my family! few times in a row. “Every year “That’s not his fault!” answered You see he pretended to be one of us they leave this treat out for us on the parrot. “His mother left the egg in and deceived my parents as well!” Avurudu Day!” your nest. He was only born with you “How did that happen?” all the “Yes, I too have enjoyed it a couple and your siblings. Just like me and my others wanted to know. of times!” agreed a mynah. brothers!” he said hugging his brother. “When my siblings and I hatched “Is that so?” asked the crow in “Didn’t you two ever have any good from our eggs, he also hatched along surprise. He was young and only times together?” asked the mynah. with us. His parents had left the egg in a tiny hatchling during the previous “Well, we used to play, eat and sleep, our nest, while my parents were away!” Avurudu season. keeping each other warm in our nest,” the crow explained and all the others “Yes, that’s right!” said a parrot, said the crow looking sad. “We did have got very excited after hearing this story. who was munching a piece of food. good times until he started to talk. “So what happened? Did he grow up “They give us this treat every year for Then we knew that he was an outsider with you all?” Avurudu!” and chased him off!” “Was he adopted? Did you call him “What is Avurudu?” asked the crow. “That is sad,” said the parrot. your brother?” “It is a day when people unite with “Although you didn’t have the same There were so many questions. family and friends, and celebrate,” parents, you two are still brothers!” “No!” answered the crow in an angry said the parrot. All the others agreed to this. voice. “He’s a koel and not a crow. “And forgive and forget those who “You two are brothers and you He’s not family!” did wrong to them,” said the squirrel. should adopt him back into your family. “But he looks a lot like you,” said the “And enjoy yummy food like this!” And today is the best day to do so. parrot. “Maybe you two are actually chimed in the mynah. Avurudu is a day to forgive and forget!” related!” The crow took another piece of food said the squirrel. All the others nodded “Of course not!” said the crow, and admired the taste, “This tastes so their heads in agreement. feeling annoyed. “Didn’t you see his eyes good!” Memories of their small days, made and beak?” “All the food in the feeder tastes the crow sad. At the beginning he did “But you two hatched together,” really great, today!” agreed the mynah. think of the koel as his own brother. said the mynah, “you were both born in “I’d like to try some of it too,” So he finally nodded his head in the same nest!” said a voice. Everyone turned their agreement. The mynah went and “He’s not my brother!” shouted the heads to see who it was. It was the Koel brought the koel back to the feeder. crow, “he’s my enemy!” also known as the ‘Koha’. The crow apologized and made peace “Has the koel done any wrong to The koel was popular in the with his adopted brother. This made all you?” asked the squirrel. “Has he ever neighbourhood. He had the best voice the birds and squirrels very happy. attacked you or hurt you?” and no other bird could sing as well “This is a bigger treat than what’s The crow didn’t answer. as him. As it got close to Avurudu, in the plate,” said the squirrel, “The crow is the one who always his songs started to sound even better. “to see the two brothers finally unite!” attacks and hurts the koel!” replied the This was the koel’s first, proper Everyone nodded in agreement and they mynah. “We have seen that so many Avurudu, as well because he was also all enjoyed the Avurudu treat happily times.” a tiny hatchling during the previous together. Avurudu. April 11, 2021 TIMES Festival 5 Celebrating the ‘Avurudda’ By D. C. Ranatunga or write during that e Sri Lankans time. The mother does celebrate the not light the hearth WNew Year twice a during this period. year. We celebrate Several days before once on January 1, as the ‘avurudda’ the is the normal custom mother prepares the throughout the world. traditional items made Then we traditionally for the occasion. The celebrate the ‘Aluth main items are kevum, Avurudda’ (Sinhala kokis, aasmi. There term for New Year) in are two main types of ‘kevum’ - ‘athirasa’ (plain mid-April – according write ‘Namo Buddhaaya’ to the times given by ones) and ‘konda kevum’ (with a top piece). While before copying a few astrologers. It is known words from a text book. as ‘Sinhala and Tamil these items can be easily made, making ’aasmi’ is a Parents and children New Year’ since both the then sit for the meals. Sinhalese Buddhists and more tedious process. As children we loved Children who are away Tamil Hindus celebrate from home doing jobs the day. to help mother in making these items. elsewhere would come It is generally in time to celebrate accepted that the ‘koha’ The father had a special job to do. He ‘avurudda’. Married (koel/cuckoo) birds start children come to see singing closer to the had to ensure that ripe bananas are available the parents no sooner ‘avurudda’ indicating that they finish celebrating it is time for everyone to for the occasion. If the bananas are not ripened ‘avurudda’ in their own get ready to celebrate. homes. They would Just as much as the in time, he follows a process of covering them come and offer betel and elders wait for the gifts to their parents and ‘avurudda’, the young using banana leaves a few days ahead. worship them. ones look forward to A ‘bulath heppuwa’ the ‘avurudda’ since it At the auspicious time, while the mother will always be ready to is customary for them be offered to visitors to receive gifts, mainly gets to the kitchen to light the ‘lipa’ at the (whether they eat betel new clothes. The parents or not) as a sign of also give them money right time, the father cuts a branch of a tree goodwill. After chatting as ‘santhosam’ which, in for a while they are the old days used to be symbolising starting work for the New Year. invited for an ‘avurudu collected in a till rather feed’. than spent straightaway. The children are made to read a book and write Once the home Auspicious times are ceremonies are over the given by the astrologists a few words. During our school days we used to children would rush to mainly to stop all work meet friends and play. for the year and when read a text book and first to start work for the New Year. The time to stop all work in the current year is known as ‘nonagathaya’ and the parents ask the children not to read Pix by M. A. Pushpa Kumara

April 11, 2021 6 Kids’ World TIMES My horse My grandparents Please remember that articles, poems and paintings sent, will not be published ote My grandparents live in Thulhiriya. unless they are certified as your own work N Both Seeya and Achcha are 73 years old by a parent or teacher. Also please mention and retired. the topic, your full name, date of birth and address in your entry. Articles should not exceed 200 words. I love to go to their beautiful house. Art should be on A4 size paper. They have planted many types of Remember to write the date that you send your entries. vegetables, fruits and flowers in their garden. Achcha makes delicious food and Seeya builds playhouses for me and A new hobby my little brother. I wish my grandparents good health A hobby is something that we do for and long life. May the Noble Triple Gem pleasure in our free time. Everyone in the bless them all the time! world has a hobby in life. During the COVID-19 pandemic we were forced to stay at home. Eshalie Buvanija (6 years) I was first bored during the recent break so Tanulya Ruwanpura (8 years) Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 5 I started a new hobby. The hobby I picked up Lyceum Int. School, Nugegoda was gardening. When I first started gardening it was My favourite bird hard for me. When the days went by, My pets gardening became my most favourite hobby. My favourite bird is the yellow Gardening gives me joy and satisfaction of the bird. It is yellow and black in colour. heart and mind. When I work in my garden, It has beautiful eyes. They live in I forget all my problems and sorrows and I feel pairs. They eat fruits. They drink the freshness of the garden. It is the best time water from our lily pond. They are in my day. beautiful birds and they are very Gardening takes me close to nature, to the lovely. plants and trees. Gardening is also a good form They are like fireflies flying in the of exercise. I water my plants regularly, early night sky. They are small in size but in the morning or late in the evening. In my they are smart. The yellow bird has garden there are herbs and medicinal plants Sheneshi Silva (Grade 5) a dark red beak. It has black feathers such as ginger and aloe vera that helps our Ladies’ College, Colombo on the back of its body. It has shiny lives in different ways. yellow feathers. I hope to follow my new hobby in the We should not hurt them. future. They make our gardens beautiful. At the river Aysha Manaal (11 years) Senuri Gunawardana (Grade 2) Ilma Int. Girls’ School Methodist College, Colombo 3

My favourite places Every person has a favourite place to go. beach like building sandcastles, playing A place where they can relax their mind, treasure hunts in the sand etc. These enjoy their happiness and where it makes things help us to release our stress. them feel free. I also really like to spend time in flower There are many places that I would like gardens. These are mostly situated in Mishenka Bandara (8 years) S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia to visit. The beach/seaside, school and Nuwara Eliya. The very first time I visited beautiful flower gardens are some of them. Nuwara Eliya I was amazed by the It may be common places where everyone beautiful flowers and scenery. There were Rainbow goes to but these places make me feel so many pretty flowers. The whole village relaxed and I enjoy every moment spent was covered with beauty and filled with there. creatures such as butterflies, bees and School is a place where we can be happy. birds. By looking at the scenery we enjoy We can play sports and do other activities and feel so comfortable and joyful. with our friends. We can also spend our From all these places my most favourite time reading. The beach is the place which to visit is the flower gardens. I hope that takes us to another world. The sea gives us I can visit these places again during the comfort with its breaking waves. It is one holidays. of the beautiful blessings that mankind has Aaminah Azmi (14 years) received. We can do many things at the Ruzaiq Junkeer (9 years) St. Paul’s Girls’ School, Milagiriya Carey College, Colombo april 11, 2021 TIMES 7 Rose My favourite song My favourite song is ‘You Are My Sunshine.’ The song is about a mother’s love. It was written by Jimmie Davis in 1939. Simon Ravenhall was the first singer of the song. It’s a very beautiful song. I like this song so much. Dishni Prihansi (9 years) Ave Maria Convent, Negombo An aeroplane This is also called How I felt on my birthday an air bus. It was early It has two morning and long wings. T. Hariny (Grade 4) I was woken up A pilot always flies the plane. H.B.T.M. School, Mulliyawalai by my mom. It goes inside the clouds. It is She surprised very big. me by saying I always like to see planes. “Happy Birthday.’’ I want to be a pilot one day. At the temple Then I remembered it was my birthday. I quickly Adeesh Dilan (7 years) wore my pretty dress which mom brought me Joseph Vaz College, yesterday. Then I went to see my sister and dad. Wennappuwa They also said, “Happy Birthday.” Then dad said to us that today we are going to have lots of fun. Mom made me my favourite food. After breakfast, Myself dad and mom prepared lunch. Then we packed our I am Sithum Chamika. I am bags and dad took us somewhere. eight years old. I am in Grade Then we came to the place. There were children Three. I live in Sindathriya. whose parents are dead. We gave money to the I study at Sindukumari Vishaka Ariyaratna (6 years) women who look after them. We played with them. Royal Int. School, Kegalle Viduhala. I go to school by In the afternoon we ate lunch with them. bicycle. After lunch, I cut my birthday cake. Then we gave My father is a postman. them pencils, erasers, rulers and school bags. An owl in a tree My mother is a housewife. Then it was time to go home. I have one brother. My hobby I asked mom if we could visit them on my next is reading books. My pet is a birthday. She said “yes.” Then I waved goodbye to dog. I like to be a doctor. them and we went home. It was a day I’ll never forget. Sithum Chamika (Grade 3) Malsha Herath (9 years) Sindukumari Viduhala, Matale Int. School Sindathriya

A good cartoon movie Yusuf-ul-Haq (9 years) Are you interested in watching movies? Do you know who had this story idea? Matale Int. School Then in this school vacation we are very It’s by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. fortunate to watch a newly released movie. This story was directed by Walt Dohrn. ‘Trolls World Tour’ is a new 3D animated This movie was edited by Nick Fletcher, cartoon movie. This movie is based on the produced by Gina Shay and the music was Flying kites ‘Trolls Dolls’ by Thomas Dam. composed by Theodore Shapiro. The main characters are Poppy and This movie was made in the USA and Branch. They discover that there are its language is English. Cast members are six different troll tribes scattered over Anna Kendrick (Poppy), Justin Timberlake six different lands. Each tribe is also (Branch), Rachel Bloom (Queen Barb), devoted to six different kinds of music – Anthony Ramos (King Trollex), etc. Funk, Country, Techno, Classical, Pop and ‘Trolls World Tour’ was distributed by Rock. When rockers Queen Barb and King Universal Pictures. The running time of this Thrash set out to destroy the other music, movie is 91 minutes. Poppy and Branch embark on a daring Nithya Perera (14 years) Sivayogan Charan (Grade 5) mission to unite the trolls and save the Royal Int. School, Kegalle Holy family B. M. V., Wennappuwa diverse melodies from becoming extinct.

april 11, 2021 8 TIMES Quiz Tomahawk No.182

Questions for the Tomahawk Quiz No. 182 are based on articles appearing in the Funday Times of March 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2021. All you have to do is to find the answers to the questions given. Write the answers neatly on a postcard. Cut the strip ‘Tomahawk Quiz No. 182’ seen at the top of this page and paste it on your postcard. Please get your entries certified as your own work by a teacher or parent.

Two lucky winners will receive brand new Tomahawk Mountain Bikes with the compliments of Q Q Tomahawk Bicycle Mall uestions n uiz No. 182 1. What is Galapagos Islands famous for? All Funday Times readers between 8 – 15 years Name the famous person who visited the islands in 1845. are eligible to participate. 2. Where in Afghanistan were famous statues destroyed and what is being installed in their place? (Those who have already won a bicycle 3. Name the Dutch Prime Minister. are not eligible to participate.) 4. Which American President was known for leading the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolution? When did the British Closing Date: April 30, 2021 Army surrender? Tomahawk Quiz No. 181 5. When is World Water Day celebrated? Name four main uses of water. 4Maria Fernando, Moratuwa 4 Or [email protected] Amanur Yoosuf, Colombo 6 TIMES Avurudu Art

Ashka Perera (Grade 8) Vidura College, Colombo Nithesh Wetthasingha (13 years) Kunshi Abeywardane (11 years) Louvre College, Pannipitiya St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo

Mumudi Gajadeera (7 years) Omalya Senarathne (10 years) A.M.M.S. Attapaththu (11 years) Horizon College Int., Malabe Lyceum Int. School, Nugegoda Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala

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