A 15-year-old schoolboy from Mahiyanganaya has been confirmed to be infected with AIDS, according to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) for the Badulla District (111), G. W. B. S. Palipana.
ASP Palipana made this disclosure while attending a public awareness program at the Badulla Teaching Hospital. Sharing his concerns, he stated that a significant number of schoolchildren are not attending school or tuition classes, but are instead spending time in inappropriate locations.
“Some students claim they are going to school or tuition classes, but end up in the jungle. This kind of behavior exposes them to various risks, including serious diseases. Just recently, about 15 students had visited the Sorabora Lake early in the morning. In response, we have deployed a special guard to address this issue. It has come to light that a 15-year-old child from Mahiyanganaya has been diagnosed with AIDS. Children under 16 are not legally allowed to accompany others, whether voluntarily or involuntarily,” he emphasized.
ASP Palipana made these remarks while participating in a program organized by the Uva Clinical Association to educate hospital staff in recognition of World Skin Health Day. He also expressed deep concern about a troubling trend involving schoolchildren in the Mahiyanganaya area.
“In Mahiyanganaya, we are no longer seeing the children of today, but rather a new kind of child emerging for tomorrow. The skin of young girls is unnaturally white — something previously unseen in this region. These children frequent beauty parlors, abandoning their natural appearance. Pharmacies dispense cosmetics freely, without prescriptions, leading to the deterioration of the natural complexion of children. It’s not just children — even mothers are using products to lighten their skin. I don’t understand what they are trying to achieve. Some faces don’t improve with cream; in fact, they have become unappealing,” he said.
Dr. Kasun Jayasinghe, a skin health specialist at Badulla Teaching Hospital, also delivered a special lecture during the event. He warned that many individuals suffer adverse effects from cosmetics used without proper medical guidance.
Dr. Jayasinghe added that there has been a noticeable rise in the number of women seeking treatment at the hospital’s clinics for skin-related complications.
