US President Joe Biden announced that Samantha Power, the former ambassador to the United Nations who has visited Sri Lanka on at least three occasions, will be his pick to lead the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in a bid to confront “climate change, global poverty and democratic backsliding”.

Under the Obama administration, she served as a White House national security staffer from 2009 to 2013, before going on to become the US ambassador to the UN until 2017.

During her tenure, however, she came under both praise and criticism, particularly for the way in which the administration handled Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's Presidential Commission on "Political Victimisation" has called for the pardoning of 25 former military officers, including those involved in the notorious Trinco 11 case, as well as a number of high profile human rights abuses.

For the fourth day, demonstrators continued their march for justice from Pottuvil to Polikandy (P2P), commencing their protests at the Vavuniya new bus stand and heading towards Mannar, on Saturday morning.  

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has announced that it has repaid a $400 million currency swap facility from the Reserve Bank of India.

This comes after India reportedly refused to extend the currency exchange which expired on 1 February 2021, stating it would not be possible without Sri Lanka negotiating a staff-level agreement for an IMF programme.

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}