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Thursday, 22 October 2009 |
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The Republic of Iceland is a European island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of about 320,000 and a total area of 103,000 km². Its capital and largest city is Reykjavík, whose surrounding area is home to approximately two thirds of the national population. Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is volcanically and geologically active on a large scale; this defines the landscape. The interior mainly consists of a plateau characterised by sand fields, mountains and glaciers, while many big glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Iceland has a temperate climate relative to its latitude and provides a habitable environment and nature. According to Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson became the first permanent Norwegian settler on the island. Others had visited the island earlier and stayed over winter. Over the next centuries, people of Nordic origin settled in Iceland. Until the 20th Century, the Icelandic population relied on fisheries and agriculture and was from 1262 to 1918 a part of either the Norwegian, or later the Danish monarchies. In the 20th Century, Iceland’s economy and welfare system developed quickly and in recent decades the nation has implemented free trade in the European economic area and diversified from fishing to new economic fields in services, finance and various industries. Iceland is a free market economy with low taxes compared to other OECD countries. Courtesy: WikipediaThere’s so much pollution in the air now that if it weren’t for our lungs there’d be no place to put it all. - Robert Orben- Green Month from October 15 to November 15: Help environmental conservationIf you have been in touch with the current news you will know that October 15 to November 15 has been designated as Green Month. The Green Month has been introduced under the Nilla Piruna Ratak program. It is our responsibility to help protect our environment by growing more trees. In the recent past, South Asia has been affected by storms, cyclones and Vietnam were badly affected by floods which caused a lot of damage to the environment. Did you see the destruction caused by floods in Thailand recently and earthquakes in Japan on TV? These natural disasters are caused by selfish and power-hungry people who cut trees without any replacement. Illegal felling has become a global challenge. This program is specially significant with the focus on global warming at UN Summit in Copenhagen. Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed recently held the world’s first underwater Cabinet meeting becoming the global stuntman in the battle against climate change. President Nasheed dived with his Cabinet to the sea bottom in an effort to press December’s UN Summit in Copenhagen to cap carbon emissions that cause global warming, threatening low-lying nations such as the Maldives. Dear children we all should help save our environment from further destruction. We already witness melting glaciers as a result of global warming. Children can help keep the environment green by planting trees and looking after them. After all isn’t it pleasing for the eye to see greenery? So let’s go green! International Stuttering Awareness Day todayStammering is disruptions in the flow of speech or speech disorder. As responsible citizen’s we should not laugh at them or look down upon such people. Dear children if you come across such friends may be schoolmates, relations or friends please treat them kindly and be patient with them. Give them a patient hearing. Here are some facts; Stammering is seen more in males than females. There is evidence that indicate that stammering condition can run in families Each person stammers differently. It can vary from one day to another and from one situation to the other. People who stammer do know what they want to say, it’s just that sometimes they find it difficult to physically produce the sounds/ words. Sometimes takes a little extra time. International Day for Eradication of PovertyThe International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year on October 17 since 1993. The day is designated to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority. With the global financial crisis affecting each and every country the day become very important. The theme for this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty ‘Working together out of poverty’ highlights the need for a truly global anti-poverty alliance, one in which both developed and developing countries participate actively. Keep you contributions coming in to Daily News Children. Bye for now. Sapugaskanda Vishakians dazzle audience with Romeo and Juliet
Students of Sapugaskanda Vishaka Balika Vidyalaya who staged Romio and Juliet emerged the second runner-up in Senior Poetic drama at the Western Province English Language Day Competitions-2008 held at the Prince Of Wales College Moratuwa on October 19, 2008. The day was an eventful occasion where talented young lads and lasses were seen working with brimful of enthusiasm to do their best. Dazzling performance by the Sapugaskanda Vishakians enabled them to make the audience feel the glamour of the Elizabethan theatre. While on the stage they were able to have a strong grip on the audience by creating the exciting atmosphere of Shakespearean drama through right expression of thought from the beginning of the play. The cast included 12 Students with Sathsala Perera acting as ‘Romeo’ and Anjalika as ‘Juliet’ Madusha Subodani acted as Mercutio. Attracting the audience with her outstanding performance. Stunning costumes and stage props, lighting effects along with appropriate dialogues selected from Shakespeare’s original script made the drama very professional. Head of the School’s English Unit Champika Egodawatta directed the group to this success. This is only one among the many achievements that Vishaka Balika Vidyalaya, Sapugaskanda has made within its relatively short period of 18 years history. The school won the Gold Medal for the Best Productivity Oriented School in the Island. The guidance, encouragement and support of Principal D.J.Padmasheeli in both educational and extra curricular activities has inspired the students to greater success. Foreboding danger - Part 59
Pramodaka, Nalaka, Champika and Chinthaka go on a trip to the woods with their parents for their school holidays. In the middle of the night the children are awakened by a strange noise. On following their dog, Scooby, Chinthaka is snared by the age old spell of the ‘luring stones’. Pramodaka departs with Ruwi, a pixie, to recall a book of spell to cast off the spell while Nalaka, Champika and the dog remain behind with Sachi, a gnome who updates them on the life of mythical creatures. Shamilka, a friend of the mythical creatures joins in and they begin hunting for Pramodaka and Ruwi as there is no sign of their return. Just as they were coming to terms with the fact that they were lost, six rabbits scamper along the way. The rabbits take pity upon the children and agree to guide them part of the way. Meanwhile Sulo, the goblin who is always trying to make trouble for the mythical creatures, grabs a basket of goodies from a gnome named Russell and makes off. Scooby scents her and attacks. Ruwi senses that Russell is in danger but she also gets the strange feeling that there is a mysterious link between Pramodaka. Suddenly a storm breaks out and Pramodaka, Nalaka and Champika are blown away with the wind. As they make their way back to their friends Sulo notices them and comes up with a nasty plan. She rushes off gang up the rest of her pack. There she reveals a secret that could hold the key to all the goblin’s troubles. There is a sudden break of trouble in the pixie camp as one of the pixies, Dina, develops weird symptoms. Emida, a middle-aged gnome goes in search of peace and stumbles upon a discovery. Now the friends have to find each other and the only way for them to get through is through the ‘Mythic Scope’. But first they have to find a way to deal with HE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here, here. Let’s listen to Sulo’s story first, he spoke up. Much to his relief Pradesh and Rangoon tore their eyes from each other and focused them on the female goblin crouching at their feet. Well Go on. You were saying that a human cub knows magic Rangoon sneered. Not magic but he had exceptional power that boy, it hissed, blinking up at him. It dare not reveal its true feelings towards Rangoon for the elder goblin had an extremely sharp tongue. The best option was to ignore such comments and go on with the story as fast as it was able to speak. All hopes of keeping the others on tender hooks were dashed. How it wished that the presence of Rangoon and Punky were removed from its sight! Is it the same one that Arizack was referring to in the prophecy? One of those four humans? Thidura asked. Hisss Hisssssssssss I believe so There are the others but he... He seems the eldest What was the rest of the prophecy? You were going to tell us before we were so rudely interrupted. Speak up, broad Pradesh snapped. Rangoon chewed on his bottom lip to control his temper but curiosity got the better of him this time. Ha, let him deal with Pradesh another time. The news was getting too important to ignore. Arizack said that the weather He will become different Storms will come and go. Winds will pass by He said a more evil force will stand up. Compared to him, Zelda is nothing. He will be feared by all but he who is so fierce will fear but one. Who? they all chorused, holding their breath. Who is it? Tell us quickly. (To be continued)Excels in scholarship exam
U.G. Kaveesha Gayathmi of Siridhamma College has obtained highest marks of 189 from the Galle District at this year’s Year Five scholarship examination. Her achievement become significant as she did the exam in the English medium. Kaveesha is a multi-talented student who brought honour to her school in all island inter-schools chess, dancing and elocution competitions. She is an active student of the Karapitiya Pannasara Dhamma School and has also won All Island Dhamma School Competitions. Kaveesha thanked her parents and teachers for the support they gave her to achieve success. She is the eldest of her family and has two younger brothers. We wish Kaveesha a bright future.
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The
story so far 
Thidura
sensed that things were going to turn ugly between the two goblins.
Pradesh was senior in age but Rangoon had a vicious mind. There was no
telling where things were going to end. It was best to break off the
quarrel before it reached a boiling point. 
