Health authorities have warned of an alarming increase in HIV infections among individuals aged 15 to 29 years in Sri Lanka. The highest number of cases has been reported from the Colombo and Gampaha Districts.
HIV is one of the most serious sexually transmitted viruses in the world and remains a major global public health concern. The virus directly attacks the body’s immune system, weakening its defenses and leaving individuals vulnerable to infections. Even minor illnesses such as a cough or cold can be fatal in advanced stages of the disease.
According to health experts, the virus spreads primarily through:
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Unprotected sexual contact with an HIV-infected person
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Sharing injection needles
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Transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
The number of HIV cases reported in Sri Lanka over the past few years shows a steady increase:
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2021 – 411 cases
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2022 – 607 cases
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2023 – 697 cases
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2024 – 824 cases
Health officials have urged the public to practice safe sexual behaviors, avoid sharing needles, and seek early testing and treatment to curb further transmission of the virus.
