FPA Sri Lanka was represented at the 9^th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2017) in Paris, France from 23rd - 26th July by Ms. Madu Dissanayake, FPA Sri Lanka Director - Public Affairs, Policy & Advocacy and Ms. Devmi Dampella, Project Manager - Multi-Country South Asia Global Fund HIV Programme. 

This biennial conference on HIV science is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy-makers, people living with HIV and others committed to ending the epidemic. 

Organized by the International AIDS Society (IAS) in partnership with the ANRS (France Recherche Nord &SudSida-HIV Hépatites), IAS Conference mainly serves as a platform to showcase key research findings that highlights the improvements in HIV science globally.  The conference comprised symposia, plenary sessions, interactive workshops, opportunities to discuss and debate on research findings and other shared good practices. 

As FPA Sri Lanka, our main objectives were: Aspects of strengthening Linkages, Policy changes for better utilization of funds and greater improvements in transmission reduction, Scientific focus on Test and Treat and treatment as prevention, especially in the areas of Key Populations, PrEP, PMTCT.