Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answers are as follows:

¶ 02 (a)(i) For the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, 323,901 students applied and 319,284 students sat the examination.

¶ 03 (ii) Investigations by this Department and the Criminal Investigation Department revealed that, on the day before the examination, three questions conceptually similar to three questions included in one of the question papers prepared by this Department had been shared on the WhatsApp social media group of a private tuition class by a support-class teacher in the Kurunegala area.

¶ 04 (iii) Four Fundamental Rights applications relating to this incident were heard before the Supreme Court. By Judgment delivered on 31.12.2024, the Supreme Court ordered, inter alia: - To implement one of the three remedial measures recommended by the Expert Committee appointed by the Commissioner-General of Examinations to propose actions regarding the three questions similar to those discussed before the examination; - That the respondents I.G.S. Premathilake (13th respondent in SC/FR 291/2024 and 9th respondent in SC/FR 294/2024) and C.M. Chaminda Kumara shall pay Rs. 3 million and Rs. 2 million respectively as State costs.

¶ 05 In addition to the FR cases, the Department of Examinations conducted its own inquiry. Based on the findings, the Inquiry Committee recommended: - Members of any paper-setting panel shall carry out question-setting work only within the Department’s Confidential Branches; at the end of such work, panel members shall not take any confidential documents outside; all persons entering and exiting Confidential Branches shall be subject to strict checks. - Recruit and train a pool of paper setters to build a resource base and establish a Question Bank. - Immediately remove Mr. I.G.S. Premathilake (Director - Planning, National Institute of Education) from all paper-setting panels and notify his disciplinary authority to take disciplinary action.

¶ 06 The 491st Council of the Institute, at its meeting on 26.08.2025, recommended: - Under the Establishments Code, Chapter II, Sections XLVII 27.10, and 31.1.2, 31.1.10 and 31.1.2, to interdict Mr. I.G.S. Premathilake (Director - Planning) and produce him before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court under the CID investigation. - Under Chapter II, Section XLVI 31:11 and 31:11:1, no salary shall be paid during interdiction; therefore, stop salary with immediate effect. - Under Chapter II, Sections XLVI 27-31:7 and 31:5:3, where a government officer is charged in court and/or interdicted, a preliminary inquiry shall be conducted; accordingly, commence and continue such inquiry in coordination with the Department of Examinations.

¶ 07 Regarding the primary teacher of W/ Giri/ Adiyadeniyaya Primary School and his spouse revealed to be involved, their disciplinary authority has been informed to prevent them serving at the same station.

¶ 08 A permanent examination duty ban has been imposed on the said teacher for the duration of service and the disciplinary authority has been informed to take action.

¶ 09 Further, a five-year examination duty ban has been imposed on the Kurunegala Maliyadeva Model School teacher, who released similar/anticipated questions to his WhatsApp group, who also conducts private tuition for the Scholarship Exam; his temporary attachment has been ended and he has been directed to duties in the Puttalam Zone; a charge sheet in Form 2303 has been served and representations called.

¶ 10 (iv) Additional preventive measures planned: 1. Further strengthen security measures already in place in the Department’s Confidential Branches. 2. Upgrade internal CCTV systems for closer monitoring of Confidential Branches. 3. Develop a semi-automated system for paper construction to minimize human intervention. 4. Enhance the system to generate standardized questions aligned with exam objectives. 5. Strengthen examination supervision to prevent malpractice, increasing the frequency of inspections. 6. Restrict mobile phone use in exam centres to Chief Invigilators only. 7. Deploy full-time external supervisors to exam centres, in addition to regular staff, to safeguard standards.

¶ 11 To ensure no student is prejudiced, as recommended by the Expert Committee, all candidates will be awarded free marks for the three questions discussed before the exam, and evaluation is to proceed accordingly.

¶ 12 (v) Due to Fundamental Rights applications filed by parents claiming prejudice, evaluation of answer scripts was temporarily suspended. After the Supreme Court delivered judgment on 31.12.2024, arrangements were made to commence evaluation.

¶ 13 Accordingly, evaluation commenced on 08.01.2025 and concluded on 12.01.2025.

¶ 14 (a) The above answers apply.

¶ 15 (b) Not applicable.