A card promoting abortion has been distributed at Kotagala in Nuwara Eliya, said health officer Janath Abeyratne.

An NGO involved in reproductive health is carrying out the abortions without permission of the provincial or district health authorities.

This is the first time that promoting abortion openly has been reported, he said.

Mentioning contact telephone numbers, the card has been distributed in areas where estate women frequent, said Dr. Abeyratne.

Complaints to law enforcement authorities failed to yield any result, he said, adding that the matter will be brought to the attention of the IGP.

He said Nuwara Eliya is the district with the highest number of NGO in operation, although maternal and child health was at a very low level.

Dr. Abeyratne went onto say that abortion centres raided by police resume their activities later.

He questioned as to whether this was due to punishment given to offenders being inadequate.