Nugegoda Magistrate Ruwandika Marasinghe has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to name the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, as a suspect and produce him before court if evidence emerges of his involvement in the incident where a web link leading to an adult website was included in Grade 6 English Language Modules 1, 2 and 3, issued under the new education reforms.
The Magistrate further ordered the CID to carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine whether the controversial web address was included deliberately, inadvertently, or due to negligence.
In addition, the court directed the CID to produce as court exhibits the teacher training manual and the proofread version of the modules, both of which are alleged to contain the offending web link.
These orders were issued after the court considered submissions made by counsel appearing for the Association of Education Professionals (AEP) and the Grade Principals’ Association (GPA), in relation to the ongoing CID investigation into a complaint lodged by Mr. Kaluwewa himself. The Magistrate also instructed the CID to record statements from all individuals and parties who had filed complaints concerning the incident.
When the case was taken up, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, appearing with Attorneys-at-Law Dinura Jayasinghe and Kisal Senanayake on behalf of AEP Secretary Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera, informed court that the CID was conducting its investigation solely based on the complaint made by the Education Ministry Secretary, while ignoring complaints made earlier by other parties, including his client.
Counsel alleged that the CID’s decision to investigate Mr. Kaluwewa’s complaint—despite him being a potential suspect—was aimed at shielding those responsible from accountability. He further stated that the printing of the modules containing the objectionable web link had caused a financial loss exceeding Rs. 60 million to the State.
Responding to queries raised by the Magistrate, the Officer-in-Charge of the CID’s Special Investigation Unit, Chief Inspector Kelum Karunaratne, informed court that statements had been recorded from 35 individuals so far. He added that lengthy statements had been obtained from two lecturers of the National Institute of Education (NIE) who were involved in drafting the modules.
CI Karunaratne also stated that a forensic examination is underway on the electronic devices and digital data used in compiling the modules. Investigators are further analysing email correspondence exchanged between the two lecturers and a senior assistant director of the NIE.
However, President’s Counsel Gunaratne accused the CID of deliberately delaying the investigation, warning that such delays could provide an opportunity for suspects to destroy or tamper with evidence. He cautioned that if the investigation continues in a manner that allows wrongdoers to evade justice, his clients would seek legal redress through a private plaint.
