The fight for abortion rights in Sri Lanka

A proposed amendment to the British colonial-era abortion laws is far too narrow

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In a country where abortion remains criminalised under colonial-era laws dating back to 1883, Sri Lanka has long denied women the fundamental right to make decisions about their own bodies.

The recent proposal to amend these laws, allowing for pregnancy termination in cases of unviable fetal abnormalities, has been welcomed by many, including the Sri Lanka Safe Abortion Coalition (SLSAC). However, this limited reform is far from sufficient, and it exposes deeper systemic issues: the exclusion of women from decision making, the medicalisation of a fundamentally human rights issue and the persistent stigma and patriarchal control over women's reproductive choices.

The SLSAC has cautiously welcomed the proposal, recognising it as a potential first step toward a more just and compassionate legal framework. Yet the coalition is clear in its stance: the proposed amendment is far too narrow. Limiting access to abortion solely on the grounds of fatal fetal abnormalities does not address the broader reality of why women seek abortions, including cases of rape, incest, lack of access to contraception, economic hardship or simply the choice not to continue a pregnancy.

The proposed reform has been driven by three medical colleges: the College of Community Physicians, the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the College of Pediatricians. While their involvement is important, their dominance in drafting this amendment is problematic. It reflects a persistent trend of viewing abortion solely through a clinical lens, ignoring the complex social, economic and human rights dimensions of reproductive health.