COI Report March 2012 - UK Border Agency - Home Office

7 MARCH 2012 SRI LANKA
For additional information on the issue of abortion click on the following hyperlinks:
Asia Safe Abortion Partnership (ASAP): A Study of Knowledge, Attitudes and
Understanding of Legal Professionals about Safe Abortion as a Women‘s Right in Sri
Lanka and FPA: Economic Perspectives of Unsafe Abortions in Sri Lanka
Single mothers/widows
20.29 A British High Commission (BHC) letter dated 30 January 2012 360 noted that:
―In general, the treatment of persons in mixed marriages, single mothers and illegitimate
children, depends entirely on the area of the country, plus the family and religious
background of each individual case.
―Rural Tamil communities remain deeply conservative and acknowledged birth out of
wedlock is unusual in these communities. Unmarried mothers often face a stigma
whatever race or religion or area of the country they live in, but this depends entirely on
family circumstances and the local community. The Salvation Army spokesperson said
that in her opinion the religion or ethnic background of an unmarried mother did not
make any difference in the way that they were perceived. She added that a majority of
the women who come to seek assistance from her organisation are Tamil.
―The Haven & Sunshine Homes in Colombo are Salvation Army establishments run
specifically for single mothers. A spokesperson for Salvation Army explained that the
only other organisation in Sri Lanka that offers similar support are the Mother Teresa‘s
Homes based in Moratuwa and Wattala on the outskirts of Colombo, which are linked to
the Catholic Church. It was explained that the Haven has 13 beds and is for women
over the age of 18 years who voluntarily attend with babies. Sunshine home is for all
ages of women referred to the Salvation Army by the Courts. She told us that she is
seeing an increase in the number of unmarried mothers being referred and that the
main reason that women come to them is because they do not want to go home to face
their families. Each woman admitted has to pay Rs 1,500 a month (£8.50) to cover
costs, although those unable to pay are treated sympathetically and confidentially.
―The Salvation Army spokesperson added that women often fall into two clear
categories, ones that have worked in the Middle-East and been abused by their
employers, and the others who work in the factory areas around Colombo and have
affairs with married men. The Sri Lankan government provides no state assistance or
benefit payments for these women. However, I was told that the women returning from
the Middle East must report to the Sri Lankan Bureau for Foreign Employment (SLBFE)
on return to Colombo Airport. The SLBFE is part of the Sri Lankan Ministry for Foreign
Employment, Promotion & Welfare, and in cases where a woman informs them that she
is pregnant and requires assistance; they will contact the Salvation Army. If
accommodation is available, the SLBFE will pay the Salvation Army the Rs 1,500
(£8.50) per month until the birth of the child. If they are unable to offer accommodation,
the SLBFE will contact Mother Teresa‘s Home.‖
20.30 The BHC letter of 30 January 2012 361 continued:
360 British High Commission Colombo, Letter dated 30 January 2012
361 British High Commission Colombo, Letter dated 30 January 2012
The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 3 February 2012.
Further brief information on recent events and reports has been provided in the Latest News section
to 2 March 2012.
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