A joint press release published by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and Journalists for Democracy Sri Lanka (JDS) reports a staggering number of retired and serving military officers being appointed to key administrative posts by President and former army officer Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Last week marked the 15th year since seven workers of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) were kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Sri Lankan government-backed paramilitaries in Batticaloa.

The paramilitary Karuna group was allegedly responsible for the attack.

Jaffna police have arrested a participant of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) 'Independence Day' rally over suspected involvement in sword attacking incidents. 

The police had reportedly received intelligence that two people allegedly involved in sword attacking incidents in the city were participating in the SLFP march. 

For the third day, Tamils and Muslims continued their march for justice from Pottuvil to Polikandy (P2P), commencing with a special prayer at the Trincomalee Shiva Temple on Friday morning.

^{The Sri Lankan flag raised at Newham Town Hall}

The Chief Executive for Newham, Althea Loderick has apologised for flying the Sri Lankan flag yesterday at Newham Town Hall in London, following a huge backlash from the Tamil community.

Across the North-East, Tamils are marching from Pottuvil to Polikandi (P2P) to raise awareness of the repression of Tamils and Muslims on the island and to urge the international community to act.

India’s High Commission has reportedly rejected an extension to a $400 million currency exchange agreement, set to expire on 1 February, stating that it would be impossible unless “Sri Lanka having successfully negotiated staff-level agreement for an IMF programme”.

^{Accused war criminal and Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa} 

UN human rights experts have expressed their deep concern about the worsening human rights situation in Sri Lanka and have called on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the international community to keep the human rights situation in Sri Lanka under continuous scrutiny and to explore all possible options for advancing accountability in the country, including the possibility of establishing an impartial and independent international accountability mechanism, and for UN member states to em

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) carried out an 'Independence day' rally attended by SLFP members and supporters in Jaffna, despite the Sri Lankan police pushing for court bans against the justice walk protest organised by Tamils. 

While Tamils in Sri Lanka boycotted SL Independence day, both US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina B. Teplitz, publicly congratulated Sri Lanka on their “democratic traditions” and “shared principles” of “equality for all” in their Independence Day wishes.

A group of Tamils are set to welcome the Pottuvil to Polikandy (P2P) protesters near Nayarthu bridge, Mullaitivu, despite attempts by the Sri Lankan police to disrupt the rally. 

Swiss Tamils joined Tamils in the homeland to reject Sri Lanka's 73rd Independence Day and marked the day as a 'black day' for the Tamil nation.