Concern rises over abortion rate in Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Contraception is freely available in Sri Lanka, yet the number of illegal abortions is increasing. In Colombo alone over 500 abortions are performed daily, according to the minister of health, Dr. Ranjit Attapattu, who added in a recent statement that thix figure is "only the tip of the iceberg". The high abortion rate can be explained partly by the fact that although 99% of Sri Lanka's 7.5 million women know about family planning, only just over 1/2 of them practice any form of birth control. A government survey in 1982 showed that as many as 94% of women wanted to limit their families, and 80% of their husbands approved of birth control; most women wanted only 2 or 3 children. Abortions are illegal, except where the life of the mother is in danger, and they pose not only moral, cultural, and religious problems, but an economic problem as well. According to hospital records, in the past decade 259,085 pregnancies have been terminated illegally. In 1981 alone there were 30,552 illegal abortions. For Sri Lanka's hospital system, which provides treatment free of charge, the economic implications are serious. Doctors say that large numbers of gynecological beds have to be provided for these patients, with their treatment costing a minimum of US$35. Religious opinion, both Buddhist and Christian, is strongly opposed to any relaxation of the abortion laws, but government statements seem to indicate a loosening of attitudes. The Ministry of Plan Implementation, which is in charge of all matters relating to population control, had this to say in a recent report: "In the context of persisting social inequalities, to consider abortion from the moral point of view only seems unwarranted. Those who do so fail to consider the real social and economic factors involved. There is a need to formulate a startegy", the report continues, "which will safeguard the dominant values of Sri Lanka society, while giving the woman the choice to decide when she wantsa chhild. Abortion is a social problem to be acted upon rather than a condition which must be confronted with legal restrictions."