The Deputy Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE), Darshana Samaraweera, has been sent on compulsory leave over the controversy surrounding a newly printed Grade 6 English language module. Two additional officials attached to the NIE have also been suspended.

Earlier, NIE Director General Prof. Manjula Vithanapathirana stepped down from her position pending the conclusion of the inquiry.

The Ministry of Education suspended distribution of the module after confirming that it contained a reference to an inappropriate website. The textbook, prepared by the NIE, had already been printed prior to the discovery.

The Ministry said an investigation was launched after a complaint alleged that an unsuitable website name had been included in the material. In addition, Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe lodged a formal complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as probes into the incident continue.

Meanwhile, the implementation of proposed education reforms related to Grade 6 has been deferred to 2027.