Leaked A/L Chemistry Paper reports Two probes launched

Two separate investigations have been launched based on the reports that the 2017 Advanced Level Chemistry II paper has been leaked, Ceylon Today learns.

Commissioner General of Examinations W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara told Ceylon Today that the Examinations Department has commenced an investigation on a complaint they received about the matter.

According to the complaint received by the Department, an individual was seen……distributing pamphlets following the conclusion of the Part II paper. The pamphlets allegedly contained several questions that were included in the recently concluded paper.

“The pamphlets that the private tutor was distributing contained several questions that were also included in the examination paper.

He was allegedly claiming that these questions were discussed in his previous classes,” Pushpakumara said, adding, “However, we do not think that this is true. It is more likely that he had received a picture of the paper after it was handed over to the student by someone from inside the examination centre, and he used it as publicity for his classes.”

The Commissioner General said that a written request was made to the Police and the IGP to carry out a special investigation.

The investigations were triggered last Saturday (19), after the conclusion of the Chemistry part II paper, when the private tutor began distributing the pamphlets. It has been reported that the tutor was distributing flyers in front of an examination centre in Gampaha.

He added “Distributing any sort of literature with regards to the examination was banned until 2 September and he was in blatant violation of that ban.”

Meanwhile, the Police are also conducting a separate investigation into the incident, the Police Media Unit told.

This move was taken after the Examinations Commissioner General submitted a written request to the Police and the IGP seeking a probe.

The police said that the Acting Deputy Inspector General of Police, Western North Sanjeewa Medawatta and the Officer in Charge of the Gampaha Division, S.S.P. Muditha Pussella are leading the investigation.

Furthermore, All Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin told Ceylon Today that the Examinations Department and the Education Ministry should take immediate action to prevent a repeat.

He asserted, “Advanced Level is the most crucial examination in the country. These situations damage the trustworthiness of the examination. Therefore, the ministry and the department should conduct an immediate investigation into this incident and reveal the results to the general public.”