The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued an interim injunction today (18) preventing the release of results for the recently concluded Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. This decision was made after the court considered a fundamental rights petition filed by a group of parents and students challenging the integrity of the examination.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Achala Vengappuli, and Mahinda Samayawardena delivered the order considering the petition.
The controversy arose following allegations that a tuition teacher in the Alawwa area had access to leaked exam papers. The Department of Examinations lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), which uncovered that a high-ranking official of the National Education Institute (NEI) in Maharagama was allegedly the mastermind behind the leak. The CID subsequently arrested both the tuition teacher and the NEI official.
Amidst mounting complaints from parents, the government decided against re-conducting the examination, opting instead to award full marks for the leaked questions. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who serves as the subject minister, appointed a committee to investigate the issue. However, the committee recommended against holding the examination again, citing undue stress on Grade 5 students.
Despite the committee’s recommendation, a group of dissatisfied parents insisted that the exam be conducted again and filed a petition seeking judicial intervention.
The case underscores growing concerns about fairness and transparency in the country’s education system, with the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination being a pivotal milestone for young students.
