The Sri Lankan government on Friday vowed to control the spread of HIV/AIDS and leprosy which was on the rise in the island nation.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that the objective of the government was to lower the disease prevalence in 5 years.

Over 1,000 leprosy patients were detected in Sri Lanka by November last year while over 150 people were detected with HIV/AIDS.

The National STD Eradication Unit Director, recently asserted that the majority of victims infected with HIV/AIDS were between the age group of 25 to 45.

The Health Ministry said that the spread of the disease was due to the tourism industry, use of drugs, homosexual behavior, and immigration.

Over 228 people were diagnosed with HIV AIDS in Sri Lanka in 2014.

(Xinhua)