Education Ministry to Update Supreme Court on Scholarship Exam Stance

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Ministry of Education has announced that it will take necessary steps to inform the Supreme Court of the government's stance on the scholarship examination, on the 2nd December.

A senior official of the ministry stated that the government's stance will be based on the recommendations from three committees that investigated the leak of exam questions.

The Ministry further clarified that the Attorney General will take necessary steps to communicate the government's stance to the Supreme Court, considering these findings.

On November 18th, the Supreme Court issued an interim order halting the evaluation of answer sheets and the release of results for the grade 5 scholarship examination, which was held on September 15th.

The ruling was issued following the consideration of four fundamental rights petitions filed in relation to the scholarship examination.

The petitions were taken up before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli, and Mahinda Samayawardhena.

Issuing the interim injunction, the bench directed Additional Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, representing the respondents, to consult the Commissioner General of Examinations and other relevant authorities regarding the possibility of invalidating the first question paper of the scholarship examination and reconducting it.

Attorney's appearing on behalf of the petitioners, argued that the leakage of several questions during the scholarship examination held on the 15th of September had caused significant unfairness to candidates.

They urged the court to grant the relief requested in the petitions, citing the injustice caused to their clients.