A last-minute revision to the Grade 6 English language module introduced under the new education reforms had been carried out without following the proper review procedures, an internal inquiry has revealed.

Leader of the House and Minister of Education Bimal Rathnayake said the matter was uncovered by a preliminary investigation committee appointed by the National Institute of Education (NIE) to probe the inclusion of an inappropriate website link in the textbook.

According to the committee’s report, two female officials attached to the NIE have been suspended, while the Deputy Director General of the Institute was sent on compulsory leave yesterday (19) over the matter.

Speaking on Derana’s ‘360°’ programme last night (19), Minister Rathnayake said statements had been obtained from eight individuals and disciplinary action had been recommended against three.

“When a textbook is printed, it undergoes 12 rounds of checking and three rounds of proofreading. It is then reviewed by the NIE, and the final copy is checked before printing,” he noted.

Asked how the error had passed through such a process and whether there had been a conspiracy behind it, the Minister said the inquiry found that a revision had been made at the last minute without undergoing the full methodology.

“It is logical to question whether there was a conspiracy. However, the investigation revealed that while the original module followed the proper procedure, the last-minute revision did not,” he said.

Minister Rathnayake also denied allegations that permanent appointments had been granted to NIE officials with insufficient qualifications due to political affiliation, including claims that a relative of one appointee was contesting local government elections under the National People’s Power (NPP).

“Absolutely not. We will not interfere in such matters,” he said. “There has been a mistake. The issue of qualifications is separate, and errors can occur when unqualified individuals carry out such work. After reviewing the full module, it is evident that no other content was inserted with any inappropriate intention.”

Challenging the opposition’s criticism, Rathnayake said he invited Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to demonstrate whether any inappropriate content existed in the module beyond the disputed link.