HIV sweeping the nation’s schools.

22 students last year and 23 students this year have been identified as victims of HIV/AIDS due to unsafe sexual behavior, Dr. Sisira Liyanage director of the National STD/AIDS control program stated.

Speaking further, noticing the pattern Dr. Liyanage said that there is a high risk that these numbers will increase.

Considering the situation at hand with the approval of the Ministry of Education a nationwide awareness program for students aged 14 and up has been implemented starting at schools in Colombo.

Dr. Liyange also mentioned that between the months of January and June there has been 100 recorded HIV/AIDS patients and that close 65% of them are males. He added that the majority of those infected by the virus are between the age group of 25- 49 years old