The number of HIV cases reported in 2023 has seen a 14% increase, with most cases being reported from males between the ages of 20 and 30 years, The Sunday Morning learns. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Health National STD/AIDS Control Programme Director Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana said that 695 new HIV cases had been reported in 2023 – a 14% increase compared to the numbers reported in 2022. 

“Most are males between the ages of 20 and 30 years,” she said, noting that awareness of prevention and treatment methods needed to be increased. 

Dr. Vidanapathirana said that the medicine named PrEP could be used by at-risk individuals who wished to prevent the disease, while those who were already HIV patients and who wished to engage in sexual activities could also take medicine to ensure that their sexual partner did not contract the disease. 

“We need to increase awareness of prevention methods. We have the Know4Sure app, which can be used by anyone to assess their risk and to get condoms and lubricants directly delivered to their house. If they wish to conduct an HIV test on themselves, it can be directly delivered to their house through a courier service. The app is trilingual.” 

Dr. Vidanapathirana said that they operated 41 STD clinics islandwide, which provided advice and medicines. “There are no HIV-related medicine shortages,” she added.

According to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, there were about 4,100 adults and children living with HIV in Sri Lanka as of December 2023.