JMO recommends abortion on humanitarian grounds

By D.G.Sugathapala   

JMO Karapitiya teaching hospital Dr.Rohan P.Ruwanpura said abortion should be allowed on justifiable humanitarian grounds and on scientific requirements.   

He said about 2000 child mothers had been reported to the National Child Protection Authority for the last year.

 Dr.Ruwanpura said a 12 year old girl, admitted to the Karapitiya hospital with a complaint of stomach ache was examined to find that she was three months pregnant and that she had been raped by a 51 year old neighbour.   

He said it was in question who would take the responsibility of the child or whether she was in a position to deliver a child.  “ Underage girls and women who were victims of rape, desert their infants by the roadside, sell them or even kill them. This is a glaring social issue in Sri Lanka. With this view the law pertaining to abortion should be amended as stated in 2021 by former Minister of Justice Ali Sabri in parliament   

“ At present an abortion is permissible only to save the mother’s life. Amending the law has been restricted by religious dogmas and other ideologies. However, science and technology is far more advanced than the law. France has allowed abortion by law incorporated in the constitution. Legal barriers lead to illegal abortion. Girls who meet quacks to perform abortions are often raped by them” He further said.