Sri Lanka Reports 860 New HIV Infections; Among 21 Countries With Rising HIV Cases

COLOMBO (News 1st); The number of HIV infections reported in Sri Lanka has increased, with health authorities identifying 860 new cases during the past year, according to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme.

The latest data show that the total number of HIV-positive individuals reported in the country has reached 7,403.

Officials said that by the end of the fourth quarter of last year, a total of 1,217,419 individuals had undergone HIV testing across the country. Of those tested, the detection rate stood at 0.07 percent.

The National STD/AIDS Control Programme also noted a significant gender disparity among newly reported cases during the fourth quarter of the year, with the male-to-female ratio recorded at 7:1.

New HIV infections were also reported among young people between the ages of 15 and 24, while HIV prevalence among the adult population remained at 0.1 percent.

Health authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of early testing and diagnosis, noting that timely treatment allows individuals living with HIV to lead healthy lives while reducing the risk of transmission.

The increase in cases comes amid a broader global trend. According to UNAIDS, HIV infections increased in 21 countries during 2025, including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Kenya, Sudan, Brazil, Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, Senegal and the Philippines.