National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Sri Lanka: Annual Report 2016

During 2016, a total of 249 HIV cases were newly reported in Sri Lanka. This is the highest number reported in a year since the identification of the first HIV infected Sri Lankan in 1987 and this amounts to about 21 persons newly reported with HIV for a month. However, the reported numbers represent only a fraction of HIV infected people in the country as many infected persons may perhaps not be aware of their HIV status and in addition, stigma and discrimination towards HIV hinder seeking HIV testing services.