Gangodawila Magistrate Ruwanthika Marasinghe yesterday (30) ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to record statements from teachers trained using the controversial Grade 6 English subject module and to conclude investigations without delay.

The CID is probing the inclusion of a website deemed inappropriate for children in the Grade 6 English module introduced under the new education reforms. The matter was reported to the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court, where CID officers updated the court on the progress of investigations in accordance with an earlier directive.

President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, appearing for the intervening party, alleged that the CID was proceeding slowly with the investigation. He submitted that responsibility lay not only with two officials but also with the Minister of Education and the Secretary to the Ministry, arguing that the matter had been downplayed by suspending only two officers.

He further highlighted discrepancies in the CID report, noting that while the relevant website appeared on pages 51 and 52 of the module, the report submitted to court cited pages 47 and 48.

CID officers informed the court that the website appeared on pages 47 and 48 of the module they had produced, adding that the module referred to in the CID report was printed on 23 December 2025. However, President’s Counsel Gunaratne maintained that a different module had been produced before court, and not the one used for teacher training.

Accordingly, the magistrate ordered that both modules be produced before court as exhibits.

The magistrate also questioned why only two officers had been suspended in connection with the incident. CID officers responded that the suspensions were based on an internal inquiry conducted by the Ministry of Education and involved the officials responsible for preparing the module.

The court further queried whether the incident amounted to professional negligence or a deliberate act. In this context, the magistrate directed the CID to obtain statements from teachers trained on the controversial module and to determine whether there had been any misuse of public property.

The magistrate also stated that if there was any suspicion regarding the involvement of the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, he should be recorded as a witness.

The CID was ordered to report the progress of the investigation to court on 20 February 2026.