- Cut-off marks for the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam will be released soon.
- A resource pool and question paper bank will be established to ensure exam security.
- Investigation findings confirm a private tutor leaked similar questions before the exam.
- Fines and disciplinary actions imposed on guilty individuals, including officials and teachers.
- Enhanced security measures introduced to prevent future examination irregularities.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has announced that the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam Cut-Off Marks, which faced disruptions due to a question leak, will be released immediately. She made this statement in Parliament on February 27, responding to concerns raised by the opposition regarding the integrity of the examination process.
To strengthen examination security and prevent future leaks, the government has decided to establish a resource pool and a question paper bank for examination boards.
Investigation Confirms Question Leak
An investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) revealed that three questions from the original paper were leaked by a private tutor in Kurunegala via a social media group before the examination. Following this, a panel of experts appointed by the Commissioner General of Examinations recommended strict penalties for those responsible.
Fines and Disciplinary Actions
The 13th respondent in the case has been fined LKR 3 million, while the 6th and 9th respondents are required to pay LKR 2 million each as government fees. Additionally, disciplinary action has been initiated against multiple individuals:
- Director of Planning (National Institute of Education) – Removed from examination duties, referred to a disciplinary committee, suspended without pay, and presented before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court.
- Primary school teacher and spouse involved – Banned from all examination-related duties and prevented from working in the same institution.
- Tutor from Kurunegala Maliyadeva Adarsha Vidyalaya – Imposed a five-year ban from examination duties for leaking similar model questions in a WhatsApp group.
Enhanced Examination Security Measures
To prevent similar incidents, the Department of Examinations has implemented new security protocols, including:
- Strict access control for individuals entering and exiting the Confidential Division.
- Upgraded CCTV monitoring for improved surveillance.
- Development of a semi-automated system to reduce human involvement in question paper preparation.
- Increased security inspections during exams.
- Restrictions on mobile phone usage inside examination halls, except for the chief invigilator.
- Deployment of external supervisors to oversee examination centers.
Full Marks Awarded for Leaked Questions
To ensure fairness, the government has decided to grant full marks to all students for the three compromised questions in the examination. The evaluation process, which was temporarily halted due to Supreme Court petitions, resumed after the court’s ruling on December 31, 2024. The cut-off marks are now set to be released shortly.
This decision marks a crucial step toward restoring public confidence in the examination system while ensuring a fair outcome for all affected students. (PMD
