Cabinet Approval to Legalize Abortion

Ministry of Justice has taken steps  to submit a cabinet paper seeking approval to legalize abortion in Srilanka. This decision was taken as per recommendation made by the GSP+ committee and another committee led by Prof. Savithri Gunasekara.  In addition considering  pregnancy by minors, marital relationship among close relations, forced sexual relationship led to take this  decision.

This committee has  recommended  the bill on this matter in the year 1995, but  abandoned it because of protest made then. As of today other than mentally retarded and  sick women  doing abortion,   others carrying out  abortion remains illegal. According to statistics 90% of the married women and 8.9%  spinsters  are doing abortion in Srilanka.