• SJB Gen. Secy. claims collection of MPs signatures to commence today 
• PM tells P’ment that the authorities would, in discussions with the NIE’s Council, not hesitate to punish the offending party/parties, says Gr. 6 students will receive revised modules from 21 Jan. 

The Opposition is likely to commence preparing a no-confidence motion (NCM) against the Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in connection with her alleged responsibility regarding the error in the Grade Six English language module prepared by the National Institute of Education (NIE), it is learnt. 

According to the main Opposition, the SJB General Secretary and Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara, who spoke with The Daily Morning, the Opposition will commence collecting MPs' signatures for the NCM today (7).  

The distribution of the newly printed Grade Six English language module was suspended with immediate effect after a complaint led to the discovery of a reference to an inappropriate website. The Education Ministry subsequently launched an investigation into the matter and lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department while the NIE Director General, Prof. Manjula Vithanapathirana, decided to temporarily step down from her position until the conclusion of the related inquiry. An internal probe report has already been handed over to the authorities, according to the Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath. 

The SJB’s National Organiser and Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake further charged  that Dr. Amarasuriya must take the responsibility as the Head of the Education Ministry and resign. 

“Dr. Amarasuriya has lost the trust of the public and an extensive investigation should be conducted into the matter and the millions spent in terms of cost, which is the general public’s tax money that was wasted, and the amount should be recovered from those responsible,” he added. According to the Ministry Secretary, Nalaka Kaluwewa, approximately Rs. 60 million has been spent on the printing. 

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP, Namal Rajapaksa, told The Daily Morning earlier yesterday (6), that a meeting was held yesterday alongside other political parties to determine the next step including the possibility of considering an NCM against Dr. Amarasuriya. SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka had represented the Party in the meeting. Chanaka confirmed to The Daily Morning that discussions on bringing an NCM were held during the meeting. 

When contacted for comment, the Prime Minister’s Media Division informed that she had made a statement in this regard in the Parliament yesterday. Addressing the Parliament yesterday, Dr. Amarasuriya noted the probe into the matter is ongoing and the authorities were in discussions with the NIE’s Council, and will not hesitate to punish the offending party. “We are following legal procedures. We too want to find out how this happened, who is responsible and the reasons behind this. There is no need for unnecessary fear regarding the education reforms. Grade Six students are to receive the revised module from 21 January”. 

Recently, the joint opposition, under the Mahajana Handa banner, called on Dr. Amarasuriya to resign from her portfolio as the Education subject Minister, alleging responsibility for what they described as a serious error in the Grade Six curriculum. The demand was made by representatives of the People’s Alliance, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, the Mahajana Party, the United National Party, the Nawa Janatha Peramuna, and several former MPs representing the SLPP. They alleged at a press conference that there was justifiable suspicion that the said module had been prepared with the knowledge of the Premier owing to her having been a lesbian and gay rights activist and having headed a non-governmental organisation advocating for homosexual rights.