Lanka Plus, is the only registered HIV/AIDS positive people's forum of Sri Lanka, has commemorated for the first time in its thirteen years of story the World AIDS day at the Jinaratna Technical College in Hunupitiya, Colombo 02 at dusk on World AIDS Day.. Stigma and discrimination are still very strong in the country where the lack of awareness and accurate information is one of the main risks for the spreading of the epidemic.

"We would have liked to have commemorated the AIDS day much earlier, but people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Sri Lanka can't still speak up and share their experiences", affirmed T.W. Princey Mangalika, President of Lanka Plus, during the event.

More than 70 people joined Lanka Plus members during the event. UNAIDS, UNDP, ILO, National HIV/AIDS control programme and ActionAid, members of their Advisory Board, supported this first gathering

During the event, Lanka Plus presented an appeal to the Government of Sri Lanka, which aims "to share, not to challenge the on going HIV response in Sri Lanka, but to make it more effective and adequate for all citizens, particularly for the families who are infected and affected from the virus".