Abortion Law to be amended
Nipuni Wimalapala
Sri Lanka’s abortion law is to be amended allowing abortions under
strict conditions, said Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister
Tissa Karalliyadda. “The existing abortion law in Sri Lanka allows
abortions only when pregnancy or child birth is life threatening to the
mother.” the minister said.
The suggested reforms once implemented will allow abortion for girls
under the age of 18 who have become pregnant due to rape or incest and
for mothers carrying babies with severe genetic abnormalities, he said.
The Child Development and Women’s Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry
and Justice Ministry have formed a committee to implement amendments to
the existing law. Two specialist doctors will conduct medical tests and
the reports will be sent to the courts. The court will make the decision
within three months after examining the reports. Pregnant women who
belong to the above mentioned categories will be able to apply for legal
abortion once the amendments come into force, he said.
“Yet, this is still under the process and we do consider the side
effects and attitudes of people and religious leaders on the proposed
amendment. I must emphasize that this is not an open license to abort
unborn embryos. We thought of allowing this under strict conditions
giving consideration to the well being of the women concerned. Special
consideration will be given to women who are raped. It is obvious that
they cannot face society and have to undergo severe mental strain
throughout their lives,” the minister said.
“Besides, children with genetic abnormalities are a burden on the
parents as well as to the society. Both parents and those children
suffer throughout their lives,” Karalliyadda said. |