TIMES Happy Sinhala & Tamil new year! - Story - Sunday Times
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Sunday
april 11, 2021
TIMES
Happy
Sinhala & Tamil
New Year!
Story
page 4
pages 6 - 7
Art by Pamoda Senevirathna (10 years) follow us on
www.fundaytimes.lk
2 TIMES
Please send
competition entries to:
Poetry Competition
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 disqua
competition and the date clearly Bad Luck lified.
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, By factory gas and vehicle smoke.
All competition entries should be
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. Her glaciers, ice will melt.
My mom promised to buy me a toy after
Competition entries without the The sea shall sink the islands left,
school,
full details requested above, Gradually all Earth shall melt.
But the bad luck was frightening me,
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,
bad luck Our Mother Earth to live forever more.
April 28, 2021
And I got a toy.
Telephone: 2479337/2479333 Anne Fernando Chanithma Joseph
Holy Family Convent, Colombo 4 Taxila C. C., Horana
Email: fundaytimes1@gmail.com
super Age: 10 – 12 years Age: 13 – 15 years
Win
books Word Count: 150 – 200
Word Count: 200 – 250
from
Topic: Planning for the New Year Topic: New Year traditions
festival this year
Age: 9 years and below Win: Great Expectations The Coral Island
Win: by R. M. Ballantyne
by Charles Dickens
Word Count: 150 Fifteen-year-old Ralph,
Orphaned at a young
age, Pip lives with his mischievous young Peterkin
Topic: My favourite New Year strict sister and kind and clever, brave Jack are
sweetmeats shipwrecked on a coral reef
brother-in-law in Kent.
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
Write at the top of your Essay A new hobby The best TV show I enjoyed It’s good to be bilingual
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 Mrinali.Thalgodapitiya@britishcouncil.org
Crowds watch as a capsized boat is recovered
from the Shitalakshya River.
Source : The Guardian
April 11, 2021
4 TIMES
The Avurudu Treat
I
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.
bird-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.
was enough food today, he enjoyed it “There’s enough food
The crow looked guilty. But he didn’t
leisurely without hurrying as usual. here for everyone!” said the squirrel,
want to accept defeat. “But wasn’t he
“Avurudu food is the best!” said a “why did you chase him off?”
wrong to deceive us all?” he asked the
squirrel, who had enjoyed the food a “Because he’s an enemy of mine!”
others.
few times in a row. “Every year said the crow. “He cheated my family!
“That’s not his fault!” answered
they leave this treat out for us on You see he pretended to be one of us
the parrot. “His mother left the egg in
Avurudu Day!” and deceived my parents as well!”
your nest. He was only born with you
“Yes, I too have enjoyed it a couple “How did that happen?” all the
and your siblings. Just like me and my
of times!” agreed a mynah. others wanted to know.
brothers!” he said hugging his brother.
“Is that so?” asked the crow in “When my siblings and I hatched
“Didn’t you two ever have any good
surprise. He was young and only from our eggs, he also hatched along
times together?” asked the mynah.
a tiny hatchling during the previous with us. His parents had left the egg in
“Well, we used to play, eat and sleep,
Avurudu season. our nest, while my parents were away!”
keeping each other warm in our nest,”
“Yes, that’s right!” said a parrot, the crow explained and all the others
said the crow looking sad. “We did have
who was munching a piece of food. got very excited after hearing this story.
good times until he started to talk.
“They give us this treat every year for “So what happened? Did he grow up
Then we knew that he was an outsider
Avurudu!” with you all?”
and chased him off!”
“What is Avurudu?” asked the crow. “Was he adopted? Did you call him
“That is sad,” said the parrot.
“It is a day when people unite with your brother?”
“Although you didn’t have the same
family and friends, and celebrate,” There were so many questions.
parents, you two are still brothers!”
said the parrot. “No!” answered the crow in an angry
All the others agreed to this.
“And forgive and forget those who voice. “He’s a koel and not a crow.
“You two are brothers and you
did wrong to them,” said the squirrel. He’s not family!”
should adopt him back into your family.
“And enjoy yummy food like this!” “But he looks a lot like you,” said the
And today is the best day to do so.
chimed in the mynah. parrot. “Maybe you two are actually
Avurudu is a day to forgive and forget!”
The crow took another piece of food related!”
said the squirrel. All the others nodded
and admired the taste, “This tastes so “Of course not!” said the crow,
their heads in agreement.
good!” feeling annoyed. “Didn’t you see his eyes
Memories of their small days, made
“All the food in the feeder tastes and beak?”
the crow sad. At the beginning he did
really great, today!” agreed the mynah. “But you two hatched together,”
think of the koel as his own brother.
“I’d like to try some of it too,” said the mynah, “you were both born in
So he finally nodded his head in
said a voice. Everyone turned their the same nest!”
agreement. The mynah went and
heads to see who it was. It was the Koel “He’s not my brother!” shouted the
brought the koel back to the feeder.
also known as the ‘Koha’. crow, “he’s my enemy!”
The crow apologized and made peace
The koel was popular in the “Has the koel done any wrong to
with his adopted brother. This made all
neighbourhood. He had the best voice you?” asked the squirrel. “Has he ever
the birds and squirrels very happy.
and no other bird could sing as well attacked you or hurt you?”
“This is a bigger treat than what’s
as him. As it got close to Avurudu, The crow didn’t answer.
in the plate,” said the squirrel,
his songs started to sound even better. “The crow is the one who always
“to see the two brothers finally unite!”
This was the koel’s first, proper attacks and hurts the koel!” replied the
Everyone nodded in agreement and they
Avurudu, as well because he was also mynah. “We have seen that so many
all enjoyed the Avurudu treat happily
a tiny hatchling during the previous times.”
together.
Avurudu.
April 11, 2021
TIMES Festival 5
Celebrating the ‘Avurudda’
By D. C. Ranatunga or write during that
W e Sri Lankans time. The mother does
celebrate the not light the hearth
New 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
mid-April – according ‘kevum’ - ‘athirasa’ (plain
ones) and ‘konda kevum’ write ‘Namo Buddhaaya’
to the times given by before copying a few
astrologers. It is known (with a top piece). While
these items can be easily words from a text book.
as ‘Sinhala and Tamil Parents and children
New Year’ since both the made, making ’aasmi’ is a
more tedious process. then sit for the meals.
Sinhalese Buddhists and Children who are away
Tamil Hindus celebrate As children we loved
to help mother in from home doing jobs
the day. elsewhere would come
It is generally making these items.
The father had a in time to celebrate
accepted that the ‘koha’ ‘avurudda’. Married
(koel/cuckoo) birds start special job to do. He
had to ensure that ripe children come to see
singing closer to the the parents no sooner
‘avurudda’ indicating that bananas are available
for the occasion. If the they finish celebrating
it is time for everyone to ‘avurudda’ in their own
get ready to celebrate. bananas are not ripened
in time, he follows a homes. They would
Just as much as the come and offer betel and
elders wait for the process of covering them
using banana leaves a gifts to their parents and
‘avurudda’, the young worship them.
ones look forward to few days ahead.
At the auspicious A ‘bulath heppuwa’
the ‘avurudda’ since it will always be ready to
is customary for them time, while the mother
gets to the kitchen to be offered to visitors
to receive gifts, mainly (whether they eat betel
new clothes. The parents light the ‘lipa’ at the
right time, the father or not) as a sign of
also give them money goodwill. After chatting
as ‘santhosam’ which, in cuts a branch of a tree
symbolising starting for a while they are
the old days used to be invited for an ‘avurudu
collected in a till rather work for the New Year.
The children are made feed’.
than spent straightaway. Once the home
Auspicious times are to read a book and write
a few words. During our ceremonies are over the
given by the astrologists children would rush to
mainly to stop all work school days we used to
read a text book and first meet friends and play.
for the year and when
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
My grandparents live in Thulhiriya.
and paintings sent, will not be published
unless they are certified as your own work Note
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
goes to but these places make me feel so many pretty flowers. The whole village
Rainbow
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) An aeroplane
Ave Maria Convent, Negombo
This is
also called
How I felt on my birthday an air bus.
It was early It has two
morning and long wings.
I was woken up A pilot always flies the plane.
T. Hariny (Grade 4)
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. Viduhala. I go to school by
Royal Int. School, Kegalle 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. My mother is a housewife.
An owl in a tree 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
Sivayogan Charan (Grade 5) Nithya Perera (14 years)
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
Tomahawk Q uiz
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
Tomahawk Bicycle Mall Questions n Quiz 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
4Amanur Yoosuf, Colombo 6 Or fundaytimes1@gmail.com
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
Printed and published by Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. on April 11, 2021 at No. 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, Colombo 2.
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