In the wake of a medical practitioner being arrested in Beruwala for being engaged in unlawful abortions, the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SLCOG) noted that although reforms to the law against abortion was debated in Parliament on several occasions, there are still legal anomalies with regard to it.

The SLCOG President, Dr. Rukshan Fernandopulle, when contacted by The Daily Morning, proposed that under stringent medical conditions, abortion should be considered in instances of rape and incest. As of now, the law only permits abortion if the mother’s life is at risk to continue the pregnancy.

He said however the reforms on abortion laws had been taken up on several occasions during the past few years. 

On 8 February 2026 a doctor was arrested during a raid conducted at an abortion clinic operating in Beruwala, the Police stated. The raid was conducted by officers of the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Unit following a tip-off. An intelligence officer, posing as a client, had obtained an appointment for an abortion as part of the undercover operation. Subsequently, officers obtained a search warrant from the Kalutara Magistrate’s Court, and a special Police team conducted the raid. During the operation, a female Police Constable, deployed as an undercover agent, was allegedly in the process of being subjected to an abortion when the suspect doctor was arrested. Police also seized a stock of medicines used for abortion procedures. Investigations revealed the suspect is a former medical officer who had previously served in Beruwala, and that he had allegedly charged Rs. 45,000 or more per procedure. Following the arrest, the doctor’s assistant reportedly collapsed unconscious at the scene. Police further said the suspect attempted to bribe the officers, offering to pay any amount to avoid arrest.