The number of HIV cases detected in Sri Lanka is 996 while mother to child contacts remain at 31. Specialist medical officer of HIV/sex related diseases prevention programme, Mrs. Sriya Kanthi Benaragama said that among the patients 410 were females and 563 males. Regular awareness programmes were conducted islandwide in 2007 and 348,895 blood samples were examined during the year, she further said. Since the first detection of an HIV patient in the country in 1987, by June 30, 2008 the number detected was 996 of whom 177 had died. During the 1st three months in 2008, the number of cases detected was 23 while during the 2nd quarter 16 cases were detected. In comparison to the previous year, the rate of detections, show a decline. Blood examination facilities have been provided to all districts in the island including the North and East and the public are advised to make use of the facility. All health staff concerned is bound to maintain strict confidentiality of the relevant information. The World Bank project launched during the last five years to educate every individual in the country on HIV and sex related diseases terminated on June 30, and the specialist Dr. Sriya Kanthi Beneragama is hopeful that due to its impact the number of detections will decline in the future.