Fathers’ Day is happening this weekend and despite our fathers constantly telling us ‘it’s just another day’, it’s a special day to celebrate the most important man in our lives. 

He’s a bit of an unsung hero, constantly doing things for us that we aren’t even aware of, showing us that we should never settle for anything less than what we deserve, telling us that we are the most important thing in his life and teaching us how to be independent all the while spoiling us a little bit as well! 

As loved as he is, we spoke to a few children who told us what their father means to them, their favourite memories with him and if they could give him anything in the world, what would it be? 

Irushi Peiris, 13 years old 

"If I had one describe my father, I'd use the word "awesome". I’m the closest to him in our family; he plays with me every night after work, which I look forward to everyday and is my favourite memory of him. I admire that he provides for our family the way he can and support us in making any decision which will make our life easier. He also understands what it's like to be a child so it's easy to talk to him about anything. One last thing I look up to him is that he will never give up on anything, he will still try even if he fails he will keep going. 

I wish I could gift him the most expensive watch, like a Rolex, because he loves them the most." 

Sithulie Samarasekera, 11 years old 

"My father is my super hero. He is a good person to me and he says about his life's ups and downs. He shares his happiness and sadness with me and my father is always my teacher. He says the difference between right and wrong. A father's tears and fears are unseen, his love is unexpressed, but his care and protection remains as a pillar of strength throughout my life.  I love my dad with all my heart." 

Raaid Akram Jabeer, 10 years old 

"My favourite memory with my father is when he bought me a PSP! And if I had the option of giving him anything in the world for father’s day I’d give my dad a light trailer bike." 

Emasha Peiris, 13 years old 

"The greatest thing about my father is the way he cares for me, protects me and the amount of love he gives. I admire him in many ways because it was he who taught me to value myself, that I was uncommonly beautiful and that I am the most precious thing in his life. My favourite and most sweetest memory with him is when we smile, laugh, play and have fun together. I know I will never find a person like him in any other man who comes into my life.  The greatest gift he has given me is his love and his belief in me. He’s amazing dad. If I could give him anything in the world it would be the same love, caring and protection he’s given me!" 

Tissi Tillakawardana, 11 years old 

"I think my favourite memory with my father was when we went to Universal Studios. I was about 5 and I was super super excited to see the Shrek characters. I was dragging Dada around the princess castle and because he’s really bad at knowing about anything to do with movies other than Puss in Boots and Shrek I was showing him Shrek, Donkey and where the ogres lived and explaining the whole movie to him and he was still very confused!! I was just dragging him by the hand and screaming and he just kept laughing. And even though he absolutely hates rides he still got onto a Shrek rollercoaster with me. 

So if I could give him absolutely anything for Father’s Day I’d like to give him this massive board the size of a wall, filled with pictures and writings of all the good he’s done and all the people he’s helped with all our good memories so when he gets old he still remembers all these." 

By Panchali Illankoon