The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that awarding free marks for the three leaked questions in the first paper of the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination violates fundamental human rights. 

The court further ordered the Commissioner General of Examinations to proceed with one of the most suitable recommendations provided by the expert committee appointed to probe the matter.

The Supreme Court also ordered the Director of the Planning Division at the National Institute of Education in Maharagama and a tuition teacher from Alawwa, arrested in connection to the paper leak, to pay compensation of Rs. 03 million and 02 million, respectively to the government. 

The Grade 05 Scholarship Examination, which was held in September, faced a crisis after a mock paper was shared with the questions that had been featured in the exam paper. 

A practice paper with questions similar to some of the questions in the first paper of the scholarship exam was circulated by a tuition teacher in the Alawwa area prior to the exam.

At the time, the Department of Examinations launched an investigation into the matter following complaints filed by various parties.

A complaint was lodged by a Deputy Commissioner of the Examinations Department, prompting an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as well.

The Police thereafter, arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged leaking of questions from the Grade 5 scholarship exam. 

Soon after, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya instructed the Education Ministry to appoint a committee consisting of local and international experts to obtain recommendations on the matter.