We shall examine the possible factors in higher female mortality in the light of data from the 1985-87 Sri Lankan Demographic Change Project 1 (SLDCP) and the 1987 Sri Lankan Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS) as well as from more general sources. There are three principal aspects of the SLDCP that are of interest here, first what it reported on prenatal and post natal care and delivery, second what it reported on health treatment behaviour and thirdly what it reported on nutrition, all factors directly relevant to differentials in mortality. There are limitations, however, in seeking to understand an historical artefact using contemporary data.