News
4200 Lankans infected with HIV, with 1700 new HIV cases detected between 2020 and 2023
Sri Lankan health officials have detected about 1,700 new HIV cases between 2020 and 2023, Dr. Janaka Weragoda, Consultant Community Physician attached to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, said.
There are about 4,200 Sri Lankans infected with HIV by the end of 2023. However, only about 2,900 are receiving treatment, he said.
“Some might ask us “how did you come up with the 4,200 figure only if 2,900 have sought treatment?” We have come up with this number using an internationally recognized formula,” he said.
Dr. Weragoda said that 1,300 people may have not sought treatment because HIV does not show symptoms for a long time. In 2021, they found over 400 cases. In 2022 we found about 600 cases and in 2023, we have detected about 700 patients.
“In the past three years, we have found about 1,700 new cases of HIV. Out of this 33 percent are between the ages of 15 and 29,” he said.
Out of this over 70 percent have been reported among male homosexuals. About 85 percent of the cases are men.
Dr. Geethani Samaraweera, Consultant Venereologist at National STD/AIDS control programme said about 95 percent of those with HIV have contracted it via sex. In some countries, intravenous drug use is the main manner in which the disease is transmitted, she said.
“In our country, contracting HIV through intravenous drug use was negligible. However, in recent years this has become the second most common way HIV is spreading. The third most prevalent way is when a child gets the disease from his or her mother,” she said.
Dr. Samaraweera said people must be educated on what risky sexual behaviour is. Those engaged in anal sex are the most vulnerable to contract the disease. This is a trend that’s prevalent across the world, she said. HIV can also spread during oral sex, too, she said.
Dr. Samaraweera said that most HIV patients have been reported from the western province and HIV prevalence is higher in urban centres.
“There are a lot of people in the western province and it’s the most urbanized part of the country. We also keep a closer eye on tourist destinations and on people who are usually called beach boys,” she said.
Meanwhile, Microbiologist Dr. Jayanthi Elvitigala said if anyone has engaged in risky sexual behaviour, he or she must get tested for STDs. These tests can be done at centres in government hospitals and the confidentiality of those who have undergone these tests are guaranteed, she said.
(RK)
Protesting Development Officers continued their hunger strike near the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (01), for the seventh consecutive day.The protesters, who are members of the Lanka School Development Officers’ Association, are demanding that they be absorbed into the teacher service as they have served as teachers in state-run schools for nearly seven years.
Secretary of the Association, Viraj Manaranga, said the protesters were seeking an urgent meeting with the President. He added that a presidential aide had visited the protest site and offered to arrange for a meeting with the President on 03 Feb., but the union insisted on an earlier date. Manaranga warned that failure to grant a meeting could trigger a massive protest in Colombo today (02).
Four officers participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while two more joined the fast on Saturday (31).
In a bid to raise awareness of their grievances, on 30 January a delegation of the All Island Development Officers’ Association visited Most Venerable
Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and subsequently with the Chapter’s Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera. The prelates said promises that had been made to them should be fulfilled.
The protest began on 26 January as a satyagraha, after authorities failed to respond to repeated requests to integrate the officers into the teaching service. The escalation into a fast-unto-death underscores the protesters’ frustration over the prolonged delay
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The long-vacant post of Auditor General would be filled on 03 Feb., after months of controversy and delays, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (31) in Kandy.
The Constitutional Council met at the Parliamentary complex on Friday to discuss the appointment but failed to reach a decision on a suitable candidate. The President had previously proposed four names on four separate occasions, all of which were rejected. The Council is now set to consider the fifth nominee.
The post has remained vacant since April 2025, following the retirement of Chulanta Wickramaratne, who served as the 41st Auditor General. More than 10 months have passed without a permanent appointment.
Sources said a female officer in the Auditor General’s Department has been nominated again, though her previous recommendation was rejected due to some allegations against her.
Meanwhile, senior audit officer Dharmapala Gammanpila, with 31 years of service and the department’s most senior official, has received backing from the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, the Maha Sangha, and several civil society groups for appointment as the 42nd Auditor General.
Sources noted that the three civil society representatives on the Constitutional Council will play a crucial role in the final decision.
by Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake
Two 18-year-old youth were arrested by the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division on 31 January for allegedly aiding and abetting two murders carried out in Dehiwala and Kohuwala. ICE (crystal meth) was found in their possession at the time of arrest.
The suspects are residents of Mount Lavinia and Boralesgamuwa, according to the police. They are accused of having helped carry out a murder at a hotel in the Dehiwala Police Division on 9 January, 2026, and an attack on a person travelling in a three-wheeler at Bodhiyawatta, Kohuwala, on 12 December, 2025.
Police said the charges included sending photographs of the victims to a criminal living overseas.
Investigations revealed that the youth had acted under the direction of a criminal known as Sando.
Under the guidance of Janaka Kumara, Director of the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division, investigations are being led by Police Inspector Hemanta Kumara, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Prasanna Gunathilaka and Prasanna (40248), and Constables Chaminda (72987), Anil (79598), Kumar (88762), and Senanayake (19363), who are continuing the probe.
by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
Shoulder injury casts doubt over Eshan Malinga’s T20 World Cup
Showers expected in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Central provinces
Development Officers threaten to intensify their protest
Auditor General to be appointed tomorrow
Two arrested for aiding and abetting murder
CID summons former First Lady again
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
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