COLOMBO, Oct. 8 -- Sri Lanka recorded 875 newly diagnosed HIV cases in 2025, amid growing concerns over increased drug use, unsafe sexual practices and the spread of infections among people who inject drugs, a senior health official said on Thursday (8).

Dr Sathya Herath of the National STD/AIDS Control Program said drug use, including injecting drugs, was becoming increasingly normalized in society and was contributing to the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections.

Speaking at a media briefing held at the office of the 'Together as One' national action program, Dr Herath said the number of HIV cases associated with drug use had continued to rise since 2022.

She said the HIV diagnosis rate currently stood ...