The Education Ministry today lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department seeking a probe into a fake news circulating on social media saying teachers will not be paid salaries during school holidays. 

The fake news, quoting Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, was initially attributed to a weekend Sinhala newspaper. The newspaper, however, denied carrying any such story. 

It was in this context that the Education Ministry lodged a complaint with the CID to probe into the matter and find out the originators of the story.

In its complaint, the Education Ministry said the fake news could be the result of a well-planned campaign to discredit the government and the Minister of Education.