NIE Director General Steps Aside Pending Investigation, Signalling Accountability Under NPP Government
ColomboWire | Education & Governance
In a move underscoring the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s emphasis on institutional accountability, the Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE), Professor Manjula Vithanapathirana, has decided to temporarily step aside from her position pending the conclusion of an official investigation.
According to informed sources, Professor Vithanapathirana has taken this decision voluntarily until inquiries are completed into an issue relating to a Grade 6 English language module. The investigation concerns the inclusion of a reference to an unsuitable website name within the educational material.
The inquiry is currently focused on how the reference was incorporated into the module, the approval mechanisms involved, and whether established review and quality-control procedures were adequately followed before publication.
Education Ministry officials stated that the temporary stepping aside of the Director General is intended to ensure transparency and to allow the investigation to proceed independently, without any perception of institutional influence or conflict of interest.
Political observers note that such actions reflect a broader shift under the NPP administration, where senior officials are expected to accept responsibility and facilitate investigations rather than remain in office while inquiries are ongoing—a practice that has often been criticised in the past.
The Ministry has assured that the functioning of the National Institute of Education will continue without disruption and that corrective measures will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
The incident has sparked renewed discussion on curriculum oversight, content vetting processes, and accountability standards within Sri Lanka’s education system, particularly at a time when public expectations of governance reform remain high.
ColomboWire will continue to monitor developments as the investigation progresses.