Abortion Law to be amended
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.
Courtesy: Daily News
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka President orders swift, grassroots-driven disaster relief amid adverse weather November 27, 2024
- Sri Lanka Parliament to convene from December 3 to 6, 2024 November 27, 2024
- Severe weather displaces over 200,000 in Sri Lanka November 27, 2024
- NPP General Secretary Nihal Abeysinghe’s vehicle falls into Parliament Pond November 27, 2024
- CBSL reduces monetary policy rate, sets 8% overnight rate November 27, 2024
Abortion in any stage of the embryo is killing…..Killing a living human. No excuse for that ……..this is the way the devil takes you to hell…
You bloody politician must take action to eradicate the lunatics from the society rather than changing laws.let the police to do their job and set up new rules against malfunctions in the country. It is really shame to say we are srilankan now. coz rapist, robber, thieve , drug dealers everywhere, no justice for the people, i believe ppl should go against these bloody rules now. It is more than enough. We wont have a country to live sooner or later, coz uneducated, uncivilized dogs rules the destroying everything.