The International Labor Organization (ILO) said that the estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Sri Lankans is around 3,500, The Island quoted it as saying Thursday.

A majority of them belong to the productive section in society such as drivers, those in the hotel trade, the army, teachers and artist, most of them are within the age of 30-39, according to the report issued by the ILO Monday.

The reluctance to use condoms, the large number of commercial sex workers and external and internal migration are some of the reasons.

Even though Sri Lanka is one of the South Asian countries in which HIV/AIDS has not posed such a threat, the possibilities of the disease spreading are much higher, the LIO said.

However, the ILO and the Ministry of the Labor Relations and Foreign Employment have come up with a three-year program to control the spread of HIV/AIDS among workers.

The program would introduce various programs and policies in workplace, prompting awareness of the disease and preventing the differentiating of those who have contacted HIV/AIDS.

The ILO also urged the government, the trade unions and service providers to join hands to combat HIV/AIDS in workplaces.

The number of HIV/AIDS cases reported from Sri Lanka by the end of 2004 was around 614, Which was viewed as only the Sri Lankan official numbers by the ILO ,alleging the numbers could increase.

Source: Xinhua