Colombo

Sri Lanka / Colombo

OVERVIEW

Contraception (Birth Control)

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Sri Lanka, you can purchase birth control pills without a prescription. You can also access other forms of contraceptives, such as implants, condoms, etc.

Since the 1980s, Sri Lanka has increasingly emphasized reversible contraceptive methods. This helped bring down the total birth rate in the 1990s. In 1987, it was estimated that 31% of Sri Lankan women had unmet family planning needs. By 2007, this dropped to a range between 1.6% (by narrowest definition) to 19.3% (under the broadest definition of unmet needs).

As reported by the Guttmacher Institute: "Within this context, family planning behavior in Sri Lanka has continued to change. Among married women of reproductive age, contraceptive prevalence rose rapidly, from 34% in 1975 to 62% in 1987,25,26 mostly because of increased use of female sterilization and traditional methods (primarily rhythm and withdrawal),27,28 and then increased much less rapidly over the subsequent two decades, to about 70% by 2007.13,26 Reliance on traditional contraceptive methods declined between 1987 and 2007, whereas modern method use increased (from 41% to 53%). This greater reliance on modern contraceptives was facilitated by the increased availability of reversible methods, as reflected by a shift in the ratio of sterilization to reversible modern methods from 3 to 1 in 1987 to 1 to 2 in 2007.26 Thus, even though the more recent increase in contraceptive prevalence was not as dramatic as the earlier one, the decisions and experiences of Sri Lankan women with respect to family planning changed considerably by 2007."

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can buy condoms online in Sri Lanka.
• You can obtain birth control pills in Sri Lanka without a prescription. The leading brand in Sri Lanka is Mithuri, which is a combined oral contraceptive. Other brands you can expect to see are Eugynon, Ovral, Microgest, Microgynon, Mithuri and Nordette.
• You can get a contraceptive implant in Sri Lanka. One of the main brands that people get is Jadelle.
• Some of the best pharmacies in Colombo are Union Chemists (460, Union Place Colombo, WP 02) and Raj Pharmacy (189 W A. Silva Mawatha, Colombo 00600, Sri Lanka).

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Sri Lanka, you can obtain emergency contraception (the morning after pill) without a prescription.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Sri Lanka, you can buy emergency contraception (the morning after pill) at pharmacies. There are quite a few dedicated emergency contraception brands that you can purchase, including Emcon, Madonna, Pill 72, Postinor-2 and Pregnon. For all of these brands, you should take 2 pills within a maximum of 120 hours after unprotected sex.
• If you can't access dedicated EC, you can also use oral contraceptives as replacement EC. Remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. You can use Eugynon or Ovral ( take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). You can also use Microgest, Microgynon, Mithuri and Nordette (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later).

Costs

The price of EC ranges from Sri Lanka Rs. 90 to Rs. 150 ($0.69 - $1.15), as of 2013.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

There are no travel restrictions attached to STI status in Sri Lanka. If a foreigner is found to be HIV+, that person will be referred to the HIV Division at the National Hospital in Colombo for care. However, as reported by HIVTravel, "Sri Lankan law does allow immigration officials to refer visitors and foreign residents to a physician for examination if a public health risk is suspected. In practice this is a rare occurrence, but travelers should be aware that Sri Lankan law allows for the denial of entry to any foreigner who, upon referral from an immigration officer, is certified by a physician as posing a public health risk. Travelers who refuse a medical examination under these circumstances may be refused entry. Please verify this information with the Embassy of Sri Lanka before traveling."

What to Get & Where to Get It

Testing Facilities

• National STD/AIDS Control Programme Sri Lanka: Tests for HIV, viral load, PAP, etc. Address: No.29, De Saram place,

Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 011 26 67163. Fax: +94 011 533 6873 / +94 011 2682859. Email: info@aidscontrol.gov.lk.

Support

• National STD/AIDS Control Programme Sri Lanka: "The National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP), Ministry of Health, spearheads the national response to HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka. NSACP is the focal point for planning and implementation of HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan and AIDS Policy together with all stakeholders. The headquarters of the NSACP is situated at 29, De Saram Place Colombo 10, Sri Lanka and it networks with 30 full-time STD clinics and 23 branch STD clinics (as of end 2015)."
• HIV Division - National Hospital, Colombo: Address: E W Perera Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka. Phone: +94 11 2 691111.
• Companions on a Journey (Wattala): This LGBT organization conducts HIV prevention activities and provides care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. E-mail: coj@sri.lanka.net or ilgaasia@sri.lanka.net.

Medications & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Sri Lanka currently has no national HPV vaccination program in place (as of 2016).
• There are currently no known providers or programs for PrEP in Sri Lanka.

Menstruation

Note: In addition to pads and tampons, you can also use menstrual cups and menstrual underwear for your period. To learn more about menstrual cups, click here. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

In Sri Lanka, pads and pantyliners are widely available. The pads tend to be rather bulky, and many are cheaply made. While you can find tampons, they're not widely available. As for menstrual cups, there are no known sellers of major brands (i.e. DivaCup, MoonCup, LadyCup, Lunette) in Sri Lanka, so you should look to buy a menstrual cup online through an international seller.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Lanka Hospital's Women's Wellness Center: "No matter which stage of your life you’re in, we are equipped and ready to help you with services, offered by our highly professional team of consultants in order to live a healthy life. We respect your privacy and want of seasoned and professional care. That is why we believe, Lanka Hospital’s Women’s wellness Center will become your ally in your pursuit of a fulfilling and a healthy life."
• Castle Street Hospital for Women: "The Castle Street Hospital for Women is the premier women’s hospital in Sri Lanka. Able to serve a wide array of services to women, it currently has a strength of 442 beds. It provides services to expecting mothers, gynecological patients, sub fertile patients and neonates. " Address: Castle Street, Colombo 00800, Sri Lanka. Phone:+94 11 2 695529.

Pregnancy

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Marie Stopes Sri Lanka:

Abortion

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Abortion is generally illegal in Sri Lanka, according to the Penal Code of 1883. If anyone voluntarily causes a pregnant woman to miscarry, that person is subject to up to three years in prison or to paying a fine. The one exception is if the miscarriage was done with the intention of saving the life of the woman.

According to a UN Report, "Although any abortion wilfully induced without the specific intent to save the life of the mother constitutes illegal abortion in Sri Lanka, in practice, indictments for criminal abortion rarely occur and convictions are even rarer. The incidence of abortion is believed to be considerably higher than is commonly acknowledged. A rural survey suggests that 54 abortions per 1,000 population are performed each year."

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can try to get an abortion pill online through Women on Web.
• Marie Stopes Sri Lanka: They may be able to refer to appropriate services.
• ASAP Sri Lanka Telephone Hotline: +94 (0) 715903414, +94 (0) 715903417

Advocacy & Counseling

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Women in Need: Founded by a team of Sri Lankan Women Dedicated to the cause of elimination of Domestic Violence and other forms of Violence Against Women. "Women In Need operates in 8 crisis centres: Colombo, Matara, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kurunagala, Batticalo, Puttlam and Jaffna. WIN also maintains the only specific shelter for Women and Children who ar subject to Domestic Violence in the Island." Call: 011-2671411. Email: win@eureka.lk

List of Additional Resources

• Equal Ground: "EQUAL GROUND is a nonprofit organisation seeking human and political rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) community of Sri Lanka. We are committed to creating a safe space for all LGBTIQ individuals and to providing opportunities for self help including mental well being, economic, social and political empowerment, access to health, education, housing and legal protection for the LGBTIQ community. EQUAL GROUND is the only truly mixed organisation in Sri Lanka which includes the wider identities of the Queer community in Sri Lanka as well as our heterosexual allies and friends."
• Women's Development Centre: "WDC through mobilized rural women leaders within the operational regions of its network of women, facilitates an environment for victimized women and children, persons with special needs, youth and other vulnerable groups to achieve positive changes in their lives by resolving or minimizing their problems through active participation in decision making within the socioeconomic process."
• Women's Centre Sri Lanka: "As a result of the emergence of Free Trade Zones with the advent of the open economic system in Sri Lanka, many women were suffered due to the oppressive policies of the government existing at that time. Especially the working class was subjected to extreme exploitation. In this historic background, the Women’s Centre was established at Tudella in Ja-Ela in August 1982 to protect women, rights of women and rights of women worker."