Sri Lanka NIE Director General Steps Down Temporarily Amid Grade 6 Textbook Controversy
By Lions Roar News Education Desk
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (January 2, 2026) — The Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE), Professor Manjula Vithanapathirana, has decided to temporarily step down from her position effective immediately. The move comes as a formal investigation is launched into a controversial error found in a newly printed Grade 6 English language module.
The decision was reportedly made to ensure the integrity and independence of the inquiry into how a reference to an inappropriate website was included in the educational material.
🔍 The Controversy Explained
The issue stems from a newly developed English learning module for Grade 6 students, prepared by the NIE as part of the 2026 national education reforms. Social activists and parents recently raised alarms after discovering that a web address mentioned in the module—intended to lead to an educational application—instead redirected users to a site featuring adult content catering to a gay audience.
Key Actions Taken So Far:
- Distribution Halted: The Ministry of Education has suspended the distribution of the printed modules with immediate effect.
- Website Blocked: The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has moved to block access to the domain within the country.
- CID Investigation: Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, has filed a formal complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to determine if the error was an act of “sabotage” or external interference.
🏛️ Political Fallout and Accountability
The oversight has sparked significant political debate, with opposition members calling for higher accountability within the Ministry of Education. Professor Vithanapathirana’s decision to step aside follows these calls, as the government seeks to identify whether the lapse occurred during the drafting, proofreading, or printing stages of the curriculum development.
The Ministry has assured the public that corrective measures and additional quality control safeguards will be implemented for all future textbook revisions to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.
