Number of homosexuals on rise in Sri Lanka
September 21st, 2011 - 5:15 pm ICT by IANSColombo, Sep 21 (IANS) Sri Lankan authorities Wednesday said that there has been an increase in the number of homosexuals in the country.
A survey conducted by the Sri Lankan health authorities has revealed that there are over 30,000 homosexuals and over 40,000 prostitutes in the island amongst its estimated 20 million population, reported Xinhua.
Out of these figures, more than 8,000 prostitutes are found in the capital Colombo where illegal brothels continue to operate, authorities said.
Prostitution is illegal in the island nation and has become a severe problem for the police who continue to carry out raids and arrests at secretly functioning brothels in many parts of the country.
Homosexuality also is a taboo in Sri Lanka.
According to Sri Lankan medical authorities, while the numbers for homosexuality have increased, most homosexuals are found to be in school and university hostels.
Most homosexuals are found in big cities in Sri Lanka and health authorities have decided to conduct island wide awareness programmes to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among them.
Director of the National Aids Control Unit in Sri Lanka, Nimal Edirisingha told Xinhua that while these were the estimated figures of homosexuals and prostitutes in the country, the numbers could be higher.
According to Edirisingha, there are also 1,388 people affected with HIV AIDS in the country.
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