Sri Lanka’s telecom regulator has blocked access to a website referenced in a Grade 6 English language module, as controversy surrounding the incident intensified, prompting political calls for the resignation of Prime Minister and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has restricted access to the website through Sri Lankan internet service providers, following public concern over its inclusion in printed school material used for language learning.
Former minister Wimal Weerawansa called on Prime Minister and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya to resign, alleging that references to adult web content in educational material posed a serious risk to schoolchildren.
Addressing the media, Weerawansa said such references could encourage curiosity among students and lead them to experiment with inappropriate material, threatening the country’s future generation. He claimed the incident amounted to an attempt to undermine Sri Lanka’s human capital and questioned whether it could have occurred without awareness at the highest levels.
He demanded that the Prime Minister step down immediately, adding that if no action is taken, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove her from the post. Weerawansa also warned that public protests targeting the Ministry of Education would follow if the matter is not addressed.
Meanwhile, Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said a complaint has been filed with the Criminal Investigation Department regarding the inclusion of the website name in the Grade 6 English language module.
Speaking to the media on December 31, Kaluwewa said the Ministry has reasonable suspicion that external influence may have been involved in inserting the inappropriate web reference. He noted that there has been opposition to the government’s education reforms and said the incident could be an act of sabotage, warranting a criminal investigation.
Earlier, the Ministry of Education said the Grade 6 English language module, prepared by the National Institute of Education, had already been printed. As an immediate measure, distribution of the module was suspended and an investigation was launched to identify those responsible
The issue first came to public attention after social activist Tilini Shalvin highlighted that a typing error appearing in three places in the newly introduced Grade 6 syllabus redirected users to a different website, instead of the educational application referred to in the lesson.
Subsequent checks by authorities confirmed that the reference led to a website catering to a gay audience, raising concerns over the suitability of the content for school material.
The Ministry said an initial review verified the complaint, following which immediate corrective steps were taken. Authorities have said further action will be based on the outcome of the CID investigation, and measures will be introduced to prevent similar lapses in future syllabus reforms. (Newswire)