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50 undergrads found positive for HIV!

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About 50 undergraduates have been infected with HIV in the first nine months of 2020, Dr. Rasanjali Hettiarachchi, Director of the National STD/AIDS Control Programme said.

The total number of HIV positive people detected this year is 342 including four school children and two Buddhist monks.

Dr. Hettiarachchi said the number of people infected with the virus has doubled compared to last year.

The first HIV positive case in the country was detected in 1987. Dr. Hettiarachchi said that about 20 members of clergy including monks and priests of other religions were among the infected people reported so far.

She said 4,404 infected people have been reported since 1987 out of which about 1,000 have died and about 2,300 people are seeking treatment. However, according to estimates, about 3,700 more infected people need to receive medical treatment.

She said about 1,500 HIV infected people are unaware that they have contracted the virus and many people who have unprotected sex with them can contract the virus.

Dr.Hettiarachchi said that such infections can be prevented by talking openly about sex related matters with children.

She also said that the parents and guardians should pay more attention to the youth.

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Forests on state lands to be designated as reserves

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The Ministry of Environment has decided to designate several forests located on state owned lands as official forest reserves.

Deputy Minister – Anton Jayakody has stated that such forests, each spanning 05 hectares or more, have been identified in every district.

Special priority will be given to designating forest reserves on mountain peaks.

In the first phase, 20 forests in districts including Monaragala and Ampara have been selected under the new program named ‘Vanaspathi’,  he said.

He further said the initiative aims to protect these forest areas and expand the country’s forest cover.

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No cases filed against 22 banned pyramid schemes – CBSL

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Although the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has banned 22 institutions operating illegal pyramid schemes, no legal action has been taken against any of them so far, according to reports.

This was disclosed during a workshop held at the CBSL yesterday (July 08) on the dangers of pyramid schemes.

According to CBSL officials, after initial investigations, the files were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry.

The CID’s Financial Crimes Unit has reportedly completed its investigations and submitted findings to the Attorney General’s Department, which is responsible for filing cases.

However, it was noted that not a single case has been filed to date.

The CBSL states that investigations will be continued against companies engaged in these illegal practices and hopes at least one or two such cases would be filed by the end of this year or early next year (2026).

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NPP’s Nishantha Jayaweera sworn in as MP

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U. D. Nishantha Jayaweera was sworn in as a National People’s Power (NPP) National List Member of Parliament before the Speaker of the House – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (July 09).

He fills the Parliamentary seat left vacant following the resignation of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma last month.

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