Sri Lanka has been formally welcomed as the newest member of the India-led International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), according to a message shared by the alliance on X.

“The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) warmly welcomes Sri Lanka as its newest Member Country,” the statement said, describing the move as “another collective step towards strengthening global cooperation for big cat conservation and a sustainable planet.”

Sri Lanka’s decision to join the alliance was initially announced in April, as part of a list of bilateral outcomes following Indian Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan’s official visit to the island. The development was included among several agreements and initiatives released on April 19 after discussions between Sri Lanka and India.

The IBCA, spearheaded by India, focuses on the conservation and protection of seven major big cat species worldwide — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma.

Sri Lanka’s membership is expected to enhance collaboration with India on wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection and broader environmental efforts.

The announcement also coincided with several India-supported initiatives in Sri Lanka, including projects related to housing, healthcare, railway rehabilitation, scholarships and other development assistance programs.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced plans to increase tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union to 25%, alleging that the bloc had failed to comply with a previously agreed trade deal.

In a social media post, Trump stated that the tariff hike would take effect next week, emphasizing his administration’s dissatisfaction with the EU’s adherence to the agreement.

“Based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing tariffs charged to the European Union for cars and trucks coming into the United States,” he wrote.

Trump also noted that vehicles manufactured within the United States would not be subject to the tariffs.

“It is fully understood and agreed that, if they produce cars and trucks in U.S.A. plants, there will be no tariff,” he added.

The announcement signals a potential escalation in trade tensions between the United States and the European Union, particularly in the automotive sector.

Marking the commencement of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage season, the first group of 325 Sri Lankan pilgrims departed from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on May 1.

A ceremonial event was held at the airport’s departure terminal to mark the occasion, with the participation of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rizvie Salih, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Khalid Hamoud Alkahtani, and senior officials of the Sri Lanka Hajj Committee.

The group traveled on a special inaugural flight operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), with Flight SV-839 departing Katunayake at 9:05 p.m. en route to Jeddah.

For the 2026 Hajj season, a total of 3,500 Sri Lankan pilgrims have been selected. In addition to Saudia, pilgrims are also scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia via Qatar Airways.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has declared that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) have already united, dismissing the need for further discussions or committees to formalize cooperation.

He made these remarks while addressing the May Day rally held on May 1 at the P.D. Sirisena Ground in Maligawatta, Colombo.

During his speech, Premadasa expressed appreciation to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe for sending a congratulatory message to the SJB’s May Day rally. He noted that although Wickremesinghe had proposed appointing a committee to facilitate collaboration between the two parties, such measures were now unnecessary as unity had already been achieved.

Premadasa also alleged that certain individuals were attempting to undermine this unification through internal efforts, stressing that no room would be allowed for such actions.

Addressing the gathering, he criticized the JVP-led government, accusing it of weakening state institutions and engaging in mismanagement and corruption, particularly in areas such as port operations, coal imports, and public finance. He further claimed that no accountability had been taken for a reported loss of US$2.5 million in national resources.

He stated that without the intervention of the SJB and its allied groups, several key issues affecting schoolchildren, the port sector, and the power industry would not have been addressed, adding that significant public funds could otherwise have been misused.

Referring to remarks by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake about “cartels” and a “network of lies,” Premadasa alleged that misinformation was being used to mislead the public.

Highlighting the significance of the rally, he said it reflected renewed hope among the people and pledged that an SJB-led administration would deliver effective governance and national development.

Premadasa also pointed to the economic hardships faced by farmers, fishermen, workers, and other vulnerable groups, noting that many continue to struggle financially. He referenced unfulfilled relief promises to those affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

He added that the SJB aims to move beyond traditional political practices by introducing modern governance reforms, including initiatives such as “Sakwala” and “Husma,” alongside efforts to promote digital transformation and artificial intelligence education in schools.

He further stated that the SJB and its allies have taken steps to address parliamentary accountability and governance-related concerns.

Reiterating his earlier point, Premadasa emphasized that the SJB and UNP are already united, making further committee-level discussions unnecessary.

He also challenged President Dissanayake to hold Provincial Council elections without delay, stating that the opposition is ready to face any electoral contest, while adding that cooperation within the opposition alliance will continue to strengthen in the lead-up to future political developments.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that Sri Lanka is facing a crisis in the energy sector, citing rising global fuel and coal prices along with declining water levels in reservoirs.

Addressing the National People’s Power (NPP) Colombo District May Day rally, the President said the government is currently providing a subsidy of Rs. 100 per litre on diesel to ease the burden on the public.

“Today, the actual cost of a litre of diesel is Rs. 482, but consumers are able to purchase it at Rs. 382 because the government provides a subsidy of Rs. 100 per litre through the Petroleum Corporation and other institutions,” he said.

He noted that the government has allocated Rs. 60 billion to sustain fuel subsidies despite continued increases in global prices.

While acknowledging that limited fuel price adjustments may be required in the future, the President stressed that efforts are being made to provide maximum possible relief.

“There is a crisis in the energy sector; coal prices have risen, and fuel prices have gone up. We may have to implement small-scale fuel price increases, but we are working to provide the maximum possible subsidies,” he said.

The President also highlighted challenges in the electricity sector, pointing to rising coal costs and reduced reservoir water levels, which have increased pressure on power generation.

He added that the government has decided to provide electricity subsidies to 96% of consumers without increasing tariffs, allocating Rs. 15 billion for this purpose.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Eastern provinces and in Polonnaruwa, Galle and Matara districts after 1.00 pm.

Showers are likely in coastal areas of Southern province and in Kaluthara and Colombo districts during the morning too.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and in Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Heavy congestion reported between the Galanigama and Dodangoda interchanges on the Southern Expressway during the May Day and Vesak long weekend was not unforeseeable. It was entirely predictable, and therefore avoidable.

Traffic volumes during such holiday periods typically double as thousands travel south. Yet roadworks were carried out at peak hours with no visible attempt to ease the impact through night time execution or better sequencing. In any well managed system, non essential works would have been scheduled around demand, not directly into it.

The expressway is funded by taxpayers and toll paying users. Commuters are not passive users, they are paying customers. However, the service delivered falls short of basic international standards, where maintenance is timed to minimise disruption and protect flow, especially during peak travel windows.

This reflects a deeper issue. The public sector continues to operate with a process mindset rather than a service mindset, with limited accountability for the inconvenience caused. The absence of consideration in execution erodes both efficiency and public trust.

Sri Lanka must widen its tax base. But unless service quality improves alongside it, the willingness of citizens to contribute will remain constrained.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has intensified its probe into a suspected financial misdirection involving a US$ 625,000 payment allegedly sent by the Sri Lanka Posts Department to the United States Postal Service but not received by the intended recipient. The case has now expanded into a wider examination of digital financial controls within state institutions.

Cabinet Spokesperson and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed that parallel investigations are underway, with both the postal administration and the CID working to determine how the transaction was diverted or failed during processing. Authorities are treating the matter as both a potential cybercrime and a procedural failure.

Initial indications suggest phishing techniques may have been involved, where fraudulent actors intercept or replicate official communications to alter banking instructions. Officials confirmed that an electronic message requesting a change in beneficiary bank details was received, but verification later exposed inconsistencies, including an inactive account linked to the instruction.

Investigators are now reviewing whether internal approval chains within the department were properly followed. This includes scrutiny of finance officers, verification units, and authorization procedures that precede high-value international transfers. Any deviation from protocol could indicate systemic weaknesses beyond external cyber interference.

Cybersecurity experts warn that government agencies remain prime targets for increasingly sophisticated phishing operations. These attacks often exploit human error, insufficient authentication layers, and outdated communication practices, allowing attackers to redirect funds without immediate detection.

The involvement of the United States Postal Service has added an international dimension to the inquiry. Its reported non-receipt of funds has raised concerns over inter-agency settlement mechanisms and could strain operational trust between postal administrations if discrepancies remain unresolved.

Authorities are expected to conduct forensic analysis of email systems, server logs, and banking records to determine whether the incident stemmed from external intrusion, procedural lapses, or internal negligence. Digital footprints will be central to reconstructing the transaction timeline.

The case has also triggered renewed debate over financial governance standards in state-owned departments. Analysts argue that weak segregation of duties, limited independent verification, and inadequate real-time monitoring systems continue to expose public funds to manipulation risks.

Questions have also emerged regarding training deficiencies in identifying spoofed communications and enforcing multi-step validation processes before executing international payments. Officials acknowledge that digital literacy gaps may be contributing to institutional vulnerability.

The CID has not ruled out the possibility of organized cybercriminal networks targeting government payment systems, a trend increasingly observed across global public administrations.

Authorities emphasize that final conclusions will depend on cooperation between domestic agencies, international postal bodies, and banking institutions as they attempt to trace the full movement of funds.

The incident also highlights broader challenges in Sri Lanka’s digital transformation efforts, where rapid adoption of electronic financial systems has not always been matched by equivalent cybersecurity strengthening.

No official timeline has been set for the completion of the investigation, though preliminary findings are expected to shape future reforms in government financial transfer procedures. Officials say accountability measures will be announced after final forensic review.

Sri Lanka’s plantation sector is facing renewed scrutiny as Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) prepare to expand oil palm cultivation, contingent on the lifting of a long-standing government ban imposed in 2019. The proposed shift has triggered debate over its implications for existing plantation crops, particularly rubber and tea, which dominate the sector’s agricultural landscape.

The industry’s renewed interest in oil palm stems from its high productivity and profitability compared to traditional plantation crops. Before the ban, oil palm cultivation covered about 10,400 hectares, with plans to expand by a further 8,000 hectares stalled despite private investment of approximately Rs. 500 million. Industry representatives argue that this interruption has limited both export potential and foreign exchange savings.

From a financial perspective, oil palm is positioned as a high-return crop. Studies presented by industry experts indicate that a hectare can generate net profits exceeding Rs. 800,000 annually, significantly higher than rubber under comparable conditions. The crop also reaches productive maturity in approximately three to four years, compared to six to seven years for rubber, giving it a shorter investment recovery cycle.

However, the proposed expansion raises concerns about displacement within existing plantation systems. Rubber, which remains a key export earner and industrial input source, could face land competition if oil palm is prioritised for replanting underused or low-yield estates. While industry proponents suggest converting unproductive rubber lands, critics warn that such transitions may undermine long-term rubber supply stability.

Labour dynamics add another layer of complexity. Oil palm plantations reportedly offer monthly wages of around Rs. 185,000, far exceeding earnings in tea and rubber sectors. While this could improve rural incomes, analysts caution that wage disparities may distort labour allocation across plantation crops, potentially weakening workforce availability in traditional estates.

Environmental considerations, once central to the 2019 ban, have also re-entered the debate. A government-appointed expert committee reportedly found no scientific basis for earlier claims regarding environmental and health risks. Researchers from local academic institutions presented findings suggesting that oil palm cultivation has limited impact on soil, water systems, and biodiversity when managed under suitable conditions.

Yet concerns persist among environmental observers and parts of the public, prompting the industry to plan awareness campaigns aimed at addressing misconceptions. These efforts are being coordinated by the Palm Oil Industry Association alongside academic partners and plantation stakeholders.

Sri Lanka’s agro-climatic conditions in regions such as Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Galle, and Matara are considered suitable for oil palm, with high rainfall and warm temperatures supporting cultivation. Industry estimates suggest that expanding to around 20,000 hectares could reduce edible oil imports and ease foreign exchange pressure.

As policy discussions continue, the future of oil palm remains tied not only to economic projections but also to how the plantation sector balances profitability, land use priorities, and long-term agricultural sustainability.