The Anuradhapura District’s anti-HIV programme has recorded significant success, with a marked drop in new infections and continued expansion of awareness and testing initiatives, according to Anuradhapura Divisional Health Services Deputy Director Dr. Dhammika De Silva.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Anuradhapura AIDS Prevention Committee, held at the North Central Provincial Health Services Director’s Office, Dr. De Silva stated that the district currently has adequate laboratory facilities for blood testing, including an online system, and is conducting well-structured awareness programmes.
Consultant Venereologist Dr. Ajith Karawita revealed that while 21 HIV-positive cases were identified in 2024, only four new cases have been reported so far in 2025. Since 2003, a total of 155 HIV cases have been documented in the district, with 97% of those patients now living healthy lives due to consistent treatment and monitoring.
He also noted that over 12,500 blood tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, were conducted in 2024 alone. “The programme continues without interruption,” Dr. Karawita confirmed.
Dr. Hema Weerakoon, of the Sexual Health Centre at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, shared that 150,000 condoms were distributed in the district last year as part of prevention efforts. Nationwide, the Ministry aims to distribute 5 million condoms in 2025 to reduce unwanted pregnancies and the spread of STIs.
Statistics shared during the meeting indicated that more than 600 people in Sri Lanka seek medical treatment each year for various STIs. Genital herpes remains the most commonly reported infection, followed by gonorrhea, syphilis, and genital warts.
Current estimates suggest that approximately 4,000 individuals in Sri Lanka are living with HIV. Experts warned that multiple sexually transmitted infections are spread through unprotected sexual contact, with eight major pathogens linked to high transmission rates. Of these, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis are curable, while HIV, hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV), and human papillomavirus (HPV) are incurable but manageable.
Dr. Karawita also highlighted that anal sex carries the highest risk of HIV transmission, with a 5% risk, compared to 0.1% for vaginal sex, due to the vulnerability of the anal mucosa to trauma and exposure to blood, facilitating virus transmission.
Health officials emphasized the continued importance of education, testing, and protection in curbing the spread of HIV and other STIs, especially among high-risk groups and rural populations.
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