Unsafe sex among mainly men is one major reason for the spreading of HIV/AIDS, he says.

Most of the infected are in the 25 to 45 age group, while there are also HIV cases among the 15 to 25 age group, according to him.

At present, 2,000 persons have been identified as having the AIDS virus, but with those not on record, it could be as high as 4,000, he said.

Most of them are from Colombo.

Since 1985, a total of 2,438 HIV infected have been identified, and 390 of them have died, Dr. Liyanage added.